Will Denver Nuggets vs Miami Heat Live up to Hype?

Will the Nikola Jokic vs. Markieff Morris Rematch even happen? Or anything close? The Denver Nuggets take on the Miami Heat on the road tonight. Hours before tipoff, we still don’t know if either player will suit up.

Because of what happened at Ball Arena on Nov. 8, and in the days following it, the anticipation feels something like waiting for a boxing rematch. Or is it more like pro wrestling?

This is far from fake, though. A few weeks ago, Nikola Jokic delivered a devastating shoulder blow from behind to the Heat’s Morris. However, Morris had delivered the first blow to Jokic. In the aftermath, karma might have swirled around both players.

Like many events since the pandemic started, it feels like so long ago. Much has happened, including the latest injury news for the Denver Nuggets. The 23-year-old Michael Porter Jr. is out indefinitely with plans for another back surgery.

As for Morris and Jokic, fans are waiting for the return of both players. Morris has yet to return from the Jokic shove due to whiplash.

Jokic, who felt badly after seeing video of the defenseless Morris absorb his shove, has missed Denver’s four last games due to a wrist sprain (unrelated to the altercation.) After starting out another MVP-like campaign, Jokic has been forced to watch helplessly as the Nuggets have unraveled. This must feel like torture.

Perhaps Heat players have calmed down since that night. They waited for Jokic outside the locker room after the game. Yet they are tied for second in the Eastern Conference and should have ambitions other than payback.

If anything, hopefully they’ve watched the replay of what precipitated the incident. Morris unquestionably initiated the tete-a-tete.

Jokic had just blocked Bam Adebayo’s shot. Yet it does look like Jokic’s hand got a big piece of Adebayo’s hand or arm as well. Adebayo falls to the ground as Jokic comes up with the ball. The Heat’s TV commentators cried foul. Yet the refs didn’t call it.

Morris was also incredulous at the no-call. He raises both of his arms. And then, like a hard-court sheriff, takes the law into his own hands. He beelines toward Jokic. The big man is dribbling up the court in a slow trot. And then to pass he lifts both arms like a soccer player on a throw-in.

Morris barrels into Jokic’s exposed right rib cage with his elbow and shoulder. This is not a normal “take” foul on the arm. The hit by Morris jars the nearly 300 pound Jokic back two steps.

Then, Jokic bulls into Morris’ upper back with a chugging start. With Morris unable to get up, Coach Michael Malone and a ref quickly usher Jokic to the bench. The most livid Heat teammate is not Adebayo, who was presumably fouled, it’s Jimmy Butler.

Butler’s acting like a school kid at recess. “Right now,” he keeps saying. He’s goading Jokic and the Nuggets to bring it on, along with some expletives deciphered by my amateur lip reading.

After the game, the L.A. Clippers Marcus Morris, Markieff’s twin brother, taunts Jokic on Twitter. Then the Jokic Brothers open a Twitter account to suggest something like a Royal Rumble.

It’s possible, but unlikely, Morris returns tonight. Jokic is listed as questionable with his wrist sprain. Coach Malone had originally said it could be anywhere from a day to a week before the Joker’s return. That was more than a week ago. Malone also said he wants Jokic to return only when fully healthy.

Butler will be on the court. At this point, it would likely be best for the Nuggets not to get sidetracked by the drama that titillates us fans. They are an injury-riddled team on a six-game losing streak threatening to derail the season.

The Nuggets have faced one of the Top 5 most difficult schedules so far. And now they begin a 7-game road trip tonight. Hopefully, Jokic does return. And the end result is a victory on the scoreboard.