MIAMI — They’re just so easy to hate. There was LeBron James, LeBotching “The Decision.” There was Chris Bosh, blowing kisses at scorned Raptors fans. And there was the Heat’s over-the-top summertime introduction, which prompted Magic coach Stan Van Gundy to say, after a recent Heat rough patch: “My suggestion would be, if you don’t want the scrutiny, you don’t hold a championship celebration before you’ve even practiced.”
Americans seem to hate the “overdog” and the Miami Heat is just that — superstars united.
On Saturday against the Nuggets, in a 103-98 Heat victory, James, Bosh and Dwyane Wade seemingly didn’t even need the other two guys on the court. They scored all but 20 of their team’s points.
Asked about Denver’s defensive plan, coach George Karl said, “It obviously didn’t work, whatever the plan was.”
He added that the Nuggets tried to double-team James and Wade, but with little luck.
“We never got the double-teams to them,” Karl said. “They were always getting into the paint, plus they were making their jumpers, and it’s a long night when they both make jump shots. It’s a hard defensive cover, because then you got to give them the penetration a little more and they’re sensational going to the rim.”
Before this road trip began, if someone had said Denver would go 2-2, most Nuggets would have been happy. They went 2-2, but lost the last two in a back-to-back with Orlando and Miami.
“We had a chance to make it a great trip — it ends up being a good trip,” Karl said.
The Heat led wire-to-wire, and though the Nuggets made it interesting, it was always Miami’s game to lose.
J.R. Smith kept Denver afloat with unconscious long-range shots. With 1:08 left — and Wade seemingly another tattoo on Smith’s body — J.R. made a three from in front of the Heat bench, cutting the lead to 99-92. Smith scored nine of his team-high 27 points in the fourth quarter, but Miami had royalty on its side.
Back in the old Carmelo Anthony days, the Nuggets actually beat the Heat in Denver this season, but Miami was without James. In his only appearance against Denver, James was thunderous. He didn’t slam the basketball as much as he hammered it. And he shot jumpers with the ease of free throws. He finished with a game-high 33 on 15-for-25 shooting. And Wade? He scored 32.
“It’s tough to stop them when they’re hitting on all cylinders,” Denver’s Ty Lawson said.
With Raymond Felton already out with an ankle sprain, the Nuggets suffered another setback, losing Arron Afflalo early with a left hamstring strain, the same injury that he sustained March 5. The team said he is day to day.
And so, the Nuggets head back to Pepsi Center, ready for their own March Madness. They’ll try to chase No. 4 Oklahoma City in the conference standings, while Nos. 6-7 Portland and New Orleans chase them.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
Nuggets Recap
What you might have missed
Denver’s Al Harrington suited up after missing the Orlando game due to an abdominal strain, but Karl didn’t use him at all on Saturday. . . . Reserve Gary Forbes shot a fearless 3 in the fourth, cutting the lead to five. It was Forbes’ only basket in eight minutes. . . . Timofey Mozgov got a little playing time, logging almost four scoreless minutes.
Final thought
Without Raymond Felton, the offense struggled.
Up next
Monday vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.
