The Denver Nuggets fought valliantly but just could not get stops when they were needed and fell to the Miami Heat 124-119 in a matchup that neither team could be proud of defensively. Kenneth Faried was huge early with 14 points in the first quarter and 24 for the game on a perfect 11-for-11 shooting performance and 11 rebounds on top. Mudiay had his third career double-double with 23 points and 10 assists, but the bench struggled to contain the Heat (as the + / - on the night can attest). Hassan Whiteside started slow but finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and the two rookies for Miami helped Joe Johnson send Denver on to Orlando with a loss.
The Heat outlast the Nuggets 124-119
