Another problem that Jokic is creating. And Nuggets discuss what’s different about Heat

As if the Heat doesn’t have enough to deal with Nikola Jokic’s scoring, rebounding and passing, he’s also now creating challenges for Miami with his size (6-11, 225) and skill on the defensive end.

Entering Game 4 on Friday, Jimmy Butler was shooting 8 for 21 when Jovic defends him, and Kevin Love was 1 for 3.

Per the NBA’s tracking date, Gabe Vincent was 1 for 4, Max Strus 0 for 8 and Caleb Martin 1 for 4 when Jokic switches onto them. Some of that is a case of Heat players missing shots, but Jokic’s defense has been better than some perceive.

“We’re just trying to change the narrative that he doesn’t play defense,” Nuggets guard Jamal Murray said. “He’s got amazing hands, timing, IQ, rebounding ability, body position, rule of vert. He’s got all that.

“Sometimes it’s not about how high you can jump and what kind of shots you can block. It’s about body position and where you are on the court. That’s half the job right there. He is an elite defender in the pick-and-roll. For what he lacks, he makes up for it.”

Bam Adebayo played well offensively against Jokic in Games 1 and 2, but less so in Game 3, when Adebayo closed 7 of 21 from the field.

When matched against Jokic through three games, Adebayo has 20 baskets on 42 shots, 11 assists and two turnovers.

“I think don’t give an easy one; I think that’s my main focus,” Jokic said of his defensive approach against Adebayo. “Maybe just try to make him uncomfortable or take the shot he doesn’t want or take over a contested hand or just to move his hand or move his shot a little bit.”

Jokic, who has three blocks in the series, entered Game 4 averaging an otherworldly 33.3 points, 14.0 rebounds and 9.3 assists in the series.

More perspective on what Jokic is achieving:

▪ He is the seventh player to have two triple-doubles in an NBA Finals series, joining LeBron James (2013, 2015, 2017), Magic Johnson (1984, 1985, 1991), Jimmy Butler (2020), Draymond Green (2019), Larry Bird (1986) and Wilt Chamberlain (1967). No player has ever had three or more triple-doubles in an NBA Finals series.

▪ Jokic has scored 100 points in his first three career NBA Finals games. Only four players have scored more points through three career NBA Finals games: Rick Barry (122 in 1967), Allen Iverson (106 in 2001), Willis Reed (104 in 1970) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (103 in 2021).

THIS AND THAT

▪ Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon said the Heat has created one challenge for them that most teams don’t.

“They make you play for an entire 24 [seconds on the shot clock] and they make you play through 48 minutes a game,” he said. “That’s not typical for an NBA team. It’s a really smart ballclub. They read the game very well. They have guys that can do a multitude of things.”

This Heat team, Nuggets forward Jeff Green said, “is going to fight until the end, going to fight all 48 minutes, every game, every play. You cannot let up. You saw that last game. You saw that Game 1. You see it every game.

“You’ve seen it every series they’ve been in throughout these playoffs. That’s just the Heat culture, Spo [Erik Spoelstra], Pat Riley, they have done a great job of implementing what they want their players who walk through that door to be like, to play like.”

▪ Max Strus agreed with the notion that the Heat’s players are generally more talented than many people believe.

“I think we keep backing it up,” he said. “We keep showing and proving ourselves over and over again. Even when people don’t do it themselves.”

▪ Heat forward Udonis Haslem turned 43 on Friday. On Tuesday, Haslem became the oldest player to appear in a Finals game; the previous oldest player to play in an NBA Finals game was the Lakers’ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar against the Pistons in Game 4 in 1989 (42 years, 58 days).

“He has meant everything to me,” Caleb Martin said of Haslem. “He is on the Mount Rushmore of undrafted guys who have made a living in this league. I’m so fortunate to have someone like him, to be under his wing and take advice from him and just learn from him.”

▪ Green, who had the whole team and coaching staff to his house for dinner on Monday night, was asked if everyone can return there for a party if Denver wins the championship.

“If we’re celebrating that, no,” he said. “My house would be destroyed.”