DENVER (AP) 鈥� Michael Porter Jr. had 30 points to help pick up the scoring load after Jamal Murray left because of a sprained ankle, and the Denver Nuggets staved off Miami's fourth-quarter rally to beat the Heat 103-97 .
Porter was 12 of 23 from the floor, including four 3-pointers, and had 11 rebounds to help the Nuggets improve to 5-0 since the All-Star break.
鈥淐aught a little rhythm,鈥� Porter said. 鈥淏ut nothing too different. We obviously need Jamal. But some shots were just falling.鈥�
Up 16 in the fourth quarter, Denver saw Miami trim it 99-97 after a floating bank shot by Jimmy Butler with 11 seconds remaining. two free throws to seal it in a game where the Nuggets never trailed.
Jokic finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, ending a streak of four triple-doubles. The two-time NBA MVP scored eight of Denver's 11 points late in the fourth quarter.
鈥淒efinitely had a playoff vibe to it,鈥� Porter said. 鈥淭hey play hard. They play really hard.鈥�
This marked the first meeting between the Heat and Nuggets since they squared off in the NBA Finals last June. The Nuggets beat the Heat in five games for their first NBA crown.
Murray left just before halftime after he sprained his right ankle when he landed on Aaron Gordon's leg after a drive to the basket. Murray tested it out but shut it down for the night, finishing with six points. He's dealt with right hamstring and ankle ailments this season, along with shin splints.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great for him to realize being cautious right now is probably the really prudent decision," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.
With Murray out, Denver pieced together the point-guard duties with Reggie Jackson, Christian Braun and Jokic to hold off the Heat. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 18 points and Gordon 16 as the Nuggets played at home for a second straight night.
鈥淭hey're really aggressive and they are not quitting," Jokic said about the Heat. 鈥淭hey know what they鈥檙e doing and it鈥檚 always hard to play against that team.鈥�
Bam Adebayo had 22 points and Butler added 21 points for a Heat team that had won five in a row. Miami was without Kevin Love, Tyler Herro and Josh Richardson due to injuries.
鈥淥ur guys have that fortitude and grit to keep on fighting back,鈥� Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. 鈥淭here was a little bit of a struggle offensively, and that鈥檚 a credit to their defense.鈥�
The Heat won five of six on a trip that included two games before the All-Star break. They face the Nuggets again on March 13 at home.
鈥淲e know who we are,鈥� Butler said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 close to the most important time of the year, so we鈥檒l be OK.鈥�
The Nuggets held a for suspended Heat big , who was with Denver last season in its title run. Bryant was presented his championship ring at half-court from Caldwell-Pope in a pregame ceremony and then immediately left the arena.
The NBA made an allowance for Bryant to be on hand for the game because it was the Heat鈥檚 only visit to Denver. Suspended players are typically not allowed to be present at the arena on game nights. Bryant wrapped up a three-game suspension for his involvement in an altercation that happened during a Heat game against New Orleans last week.
UP NEXT
Heat: Host Utah on Saturday night.
Nuggets: At Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.
___
AP NBA:
Pat Graham, The Associated Press
