Top 3 Performers From Nuggets' Win Over Heat

The Nuggets got a great second-quarter performance out of Aaron Gordon, who dropped 11 points in the period with a +10 impact to help Denver take control of the game. He finished with 24 points and six rebounds, and despite being the team's second-leading scorer on the night, a few other guys were slightly more impressive.

Despite not making a shot and finishing with just two points, Peyton Watson notched ten rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in just 17 minutes of action. Watson continues to shine on the defensive end and is making a huge impact in possibly his last season as a Nugget.

3. Christian Braun

Despite a poor shooting night, finishing 5-14 from the field and 0-3 from deep with 11 points, Christian Braun found every other possible way to make an impact. Braun posted eight rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and a block in Wednesday's win, making plays on both sides of the ball.

Of course, the Nuggets want Braun to have fewer off-nights shooting the ball, but if he can continue to make this type of all-around impact, then it certainly makes up for however many shots he misses. Braun's +14 was the second-highest on the team, trailing only Nikola Jokic.

2. Tim Hardaway Jr.

The Nuggets have not been the best team shooting the ball this season, ranking 19th in the league in three-point percentage and 23rd in three-point makes heading into Wednesday's game. That trend continued, as they knocked down just 11 of their 40 attempts from beyond the arc (27.5%), but Tim Hardaway Jr. gave them some life in that department.

Hardaway Jr. finished with 18 points in 24 minutes off the bench, shooting 7-12 from the field and 4-9 from three-point range. While Hardaway Jr. quieted down after a strong first quarter, his sharpshooting certainly made up for an off-night by Jamal Murray, who shot just 1-8 from deep. In fact, if you take Hardaway Jr. out of the equation, the Nuggets would have shot just 22% from beyond the arc.

The veteran guard is now shooting 44.7% from three, and this shooting expertise off the bench could not be more important for this Nuggets team.

1. Nikola Jokic

Of course, Nikola Jokic would find himself at the peak of the "top performers of the night" nearly every game, but he was simply exceptional on Wednesday. In the win, Jokic dropped 33 points, 15 rebounds, 16 assists, and three steals on 12-18 shooting from the field, notching his fifth triple-double through the first seven games of the season.

Jokic was a head and shoulders above the rest of the players on the floor in Denver on Wednesday, and he seemed to be envisioning a Thanksgiving feast when Adebayo left with an injury. Miami's young backup center, Kel'El Ware, undoubtedly had his hands full trying to slow down Jokic, and it went about as anyone would have expected.

The Nuggets and NBA as a whole have gotten used to incredible performances like this from Jokic, but it should not be normal what the Serbian three-time MVP is able to do night in and night out.

The Nuggets are now moving on to face the Golden State Warriors at home on Friday night.

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