Michael Porter Jr. led the charge with 25 points as the Denver Nuggets, the reigning NBA champions, overcame the Miami Heat 100-88 on Wednesday, propelling them to the pinnacle of the Western Conference.
The matchup, a showdown between the finalists of the previous year’s NBA Finals, saw Denver maintain the lead through the first half.
The Heat surged ahead with a third-quarter rally but couldn’t sustain the momentum as the Nuggets reasserted control and pulled away in the final quarter.
A notable highlight was Reggie Jackson sinking a 26-foot stepback three-pointer that widened the gap to a 94-84 Nuggets lead with a little over three minutes left on the clock.
Despite a concerted defensive effort by Miami limiting star player Nikola Jokic to 12 points, it ultimately provided Porter with the openings he needed. He capitalized by knocking down five three-pointers, crediting his teammates for creating the opportunities.
“Did you see the shots I was getting? They were wide open threes, so it’s really my teammates, all credit to them,” Porter said in a post-game interview.
This victory, Denver’s fourth in a row, advanced their record to 46-20, nudging them just ahead of Oklahoma City. It’s the first time Denver has topped the standings since November, signaling a potential peak in form as the team aims for the prime playoff positioning.
Porter, savoring the return to the conference’s lead, recognized the importance of maintaining their status with the playoffs on the horizon.
“It feels good. It feels like we’re back where we belong,” he said, mindful of the fierce competition in the Western Conference.
In support of Porter’s performance, Aaron Gordon contributed 16 points, and Jamal Murray added 14. On Miami’s side, Bam Adebayo was the top scorer with 17 points, though the Heat’s fourth loss in a row positioned them at eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 35-30 standing.
Other highlights across the league included the Dallas Mavericks’ win over a depleted Golden State Warriors, with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving leading the way before Doncic left the game with hamstring tightness.
Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings dispatched the Los Angeles Lakers with a solid team performance, and the Orlando Magic continued their playoff push with a win over the Brooklyn Nets.
Cleveland Cavaliers jumped to second place in the Eastern Conference by defeating the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Chicago Bulls triumphed in overtime against the Pacers, thanks to DeMar DeRozan’s remarkable 46-point outburst. (Via AFP and ESPN)
