The Denver Nuggets took an important victory in the Heat’s visit to Ball Arena. The Colorado team beat Spoelstra’s side by 113-96, a loose marker typical of a match that they dominated practically from start to finish and in which Miami was well behind at almost every moment. In fact, throughout the second half the distance was always around 15 and 20 points, which made the most notable event of the duel the clash between Nikola Jokic and Markieff Morris.
This took place with less than three minutes remaining, when the Serbian attacked the forward giving him a hard blow with his shoulder that knocked him down and, according to the Heat, has generated a neck injury, which cost him an immediate expulsion. However, although this may seem like a free action, the truth is that a few seconds before the forward elbowed the pivot that, although it seemed a common fault in direct, was indicated as flagrant type 2 once it was reviewed and also ended with his expulsion from the meeting. This doesn’t justify Jokic’s disproportionate aggression, but it does explain why he reacted as he reacted.
Morris spent several minutes lying on the floor, and the situation was filled with tension between the players of both teams. Nikola tried to calm things down by acknowledging the harshness of the action: ‘They showed me the video and I saw Morris’s head go back. I have felt very bad, “he said in a statement to Ohm Youngmisuk, a journalist from ESPN.
Both teams will meet again on November 29, hopefully somewhat more appeased and unwilling to turn the match into a kind of revenge for an action that came close to unleashing bigger problems.
First triple-double of the season
Exclusively sports, the pivot was the best of the match, and managed to sign his first triple-double so far this year, finishing with 25 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, shooting with a 71.4% success rate. He added 2 blocks and 2 steals to round out his night. Will Barton, also with 25 points, was his best squire thanks to his excellent success in the shot of three (7/9).
In Miami, Jimmy Butler was the top man with 31 points and 8 assists, although it wasn’t enough to keep the Heat out of the game.
(Cover photo: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)