Heat can't take advantage of Nuggets star's foul trouble in Game 4 loss
Nikola Jokic picked up his fourth and fifth fouls within 17 seconds of each other. Miami couldn't make Denver pay.
Jokic was whistled for an offensive foul with 9:41 to go in the fourth quarter and then almost immediately picked up No. 5 while jostling with Bam Adebayo.
Adebayo clearly exaggerated the contact, but he got the call and Jokic went to the bench. Nuggets coach Michael Malone could have challenged, but instead, he trusted his reserves.
Aaron Gordon came in for Jokic and 36-year-old Jeff Green stayed in the game. He rewarded Malone's faith by hitting a huge three-pointer to put the Nuggets back up by nine points.
While Miami went on a 5-0 run right after Jokic departed, Jamal Murray settled things down with a three. The Heat never got closer to five points. When Jokic returned, it was 96-87, Denver, with 4:09 left in regulation.
The Joker hit the court just in time to see Bruce Brown close out the Heat. Brown scored the next six Nuggets points, then delivered a dagger with a three-pointer with 1:21 to go while Jokic celebrated on the bench.
Jokic had 23 points and 12 rebounds, along with three steals and three blocks. For Jokic, that's a disappointing game! But for the Heat, the biggest disappointment came when they failed to close the gap when Jokic sat for half of the game-deciding quarter.
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