Davion Mitchell #45 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball against Bruce Brown #11 of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at Kaseya Center on December 29, 2025 in Miami. Rich Storry Getty Images
The ups and downs of the season have already taught the Miami Heat one thing: The pace must be fast.
After playing at the NBA’s fastest pace (106.1 possessions per 48 minutes) through the first 21 games of this season on the way to a strong 14-7 start, the Heat slowed to the league’s 14th-ranked pace (100.2 possessions per 48 minutes) during its rough 1-8 stretch that followed.
But the Heat (18-15) is playing fast again and appears to be finding its footing, winning its third game in a row in Monday night’s 147-123 victory over the Denver Nuggets at Kaseya Center. Miami is again playing a speedy style during this positive stretch, averaging 107.2 possessions per 48 minutes during its current three-game winning streak.
“The slower we play, I think the more average we become,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said ahead of a two-day break before traveling to face the Pistons in Detroit on Thursday. “Regardless of whether teams scout us and try to prepare for it, it’s got to feel different when you actually play against it. And it requires mental and physical energy and commitment every single night, which we’re fully capable of. We’ve got a deep roster.”
The results are further proof that this season’s Heat team is better when it’s playing faster. The Heat is 13-5 this season in games played at a pace faster than 103 possessions per 48 minutes and 5-10 in games played at a pace slower than 103 possessions per 48 minutes.
“The proof is in the pudding,” said Heat three-time All-Star center Bam Adebayo, who returned to play Monday after missing the previous two games with lower back soreness. “Obviously, when we play with pace, we play off of rebounds, we defend and get stops, we can score 147. As you can see, everybody feels involved because we’re getting that many more possessions.”
Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat goes up for a shot against Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter at Kaseya Center on December 29, 2025 in Miami. Rich Storry Getty Images
More possessions have led to more points for the Heat this season.
With the Heat reaching the 140-point mark for the league-leading seventh game this season in Monday’s win over the Nuggets, it is averaging the third-most points in the NBA (121 points per game) this season after averaging the 24th-most points (110.6) last season.
Monday’s 147-point display marked the third-highest scoring performance in Heat history, and it’s also the most points that the Heat has scored this season. In addition, the Heat set a team record with 84 points in the final two quarters of Monday’s contest for the highest-scoring second half in franchise history.
“I think it’s been a huge emphasis since training camp,” Heat guard Norman Powell said of playing at a fast pace. “And obviously, when you’re down a couple bodies, it’s kind of hard to keep that pace up. But that’s the style that we want to continue to play with. I think it rises everybody’s skill set and potential with this offense and how we want to play every single night. Makes, misses, getting out of transition, hunting for easy looks, quick attacks when the defense isn’t set up. And it complements everybody’s skill set.”
The challenge is sustaining this fast-paced style through the ups and downs of games and the long season. But forcing turnovers helps create more transition opportunities, as Miami has totaled 79 points off turnovers during its current three-game winning streak.
“I think you can see that when we do reach those numbers, we are getting stops, we are flying around, we are being active, we are holding each other accountable on both sides of the ball and making sure we’re getting the best looks possible,” Powell said. “Making sure that we’re the most physical team on the defensive end.
“We just got to continue to work through those lulls in the game as it goes through its ebbs and flows, its runs. We know we’re playing against the best basketball players in the world, so the opposing team is going to go on runs. But as long as we continue to hold on to the rope and fight together, we’re going to give ourselves the best opportunity to win.”
Even after its recent rough patch and slowdown, the Heat still enters Tuesday as the NBA’s fastest-paced team (104.6 possessions per 48 minutes) this season. Not only has the Heat been one of the five slowest-pace teams in the NBA in each of the past six seasons, but Miami has also never finished the regular season as a top-15 team in pace through Spoelstra’s first 17 seasons as the Heat’s head coach.
The Heat also enters Tuesday with the 11th-ranked offensive rating (scoring 115.1 points per 100 possessions) this season after finishing with one of the NBA’s 10 worst offensive ratings in each of the past three seasons.
The bottom line is the Heat’s new-look fast-paced style has led to improved results this season. Now, the Heat must sustain it because coaches and players already saw the recent downturn that occurred when things slowed down.
“I love this team and the way we have our mentality tied together and trying to figure it out, going through the tough times together,” Powell said. “Talking, communicating, just trying to get back on the right court and get these wins. I think we figured it out and just the play style and the mentality and approach that we have to have on a nightly basis. We can’t get bored with the process and going out there and competing every single night.”