DENVER -- In late December, the Miami Heat started a long road trip at Ball Arena and Bam Adebayo had an excellent night at the office.
He scored 22 points, repeatedly forcing Denver Nuggets defenders out of position as he got 11 trips to the foul line. He was at his defensive playmaking best with four steals and two blocks. It was every bit the All-Star and All-Defense-worthy performance that has become the trademark of his career.
And Adebayo and the Miami Heat were still blitzed by the playmaking artistry of Nikola Jokic, who served up 12 assists alongside 12 rebounds and 19 points to complete the triple-double in a five-point win.