MIAMI — For years, the Miami Heat have been struggling to find a way against the Denver Nuggets.

Entering Monday night’s matchup at Kaseya Center, the Heat had lost 11 consecutive regular-season games to the Nuggets, as well as six consecutive home games to Denver.

And then the Heat found their way, with a 147-123 decision ... against what was left of the Nuggets.

It was the third-highest-scoring game in franchise history, the seventh time the Heat have reached 140 this season, matching the total over the franchise’s previous 37 seasons. The 84 second-half points set a franchise record.

“We’re getting more consistent to the identity,” coach Erik Spoelstra said.

A game that opened with the Nuggets lacking sidelined Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson and Christian Braun, by the start of the third quarter lacked the Nuggets’ entire identity, with center Nikola Jokic sidelined the balance of the night with a hyperextended knee.

For a team that at this juncture a week ago had lost eight of nine, the Heat took the belated holiday gift and extended their winning streak to three on a night Bam Adebayo returned to their lineup.

Ultimately, it was easy work for the Heat, albeit not costly, with guard Pelle Larsson again sidelined by an ankle sprain, this time limping off early in the fourth quarter.

“It’s a shame that Pelle twisted his ankle,” Larsson said. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”

In his return, Adebayo closed with 13 points and 10 rebounds in 21 minutes. Kel’el Ware was the Heat big man who stood tallest, closing with 19 points and nine rebounds.

That, of course, was with Jokic sidelined after 19 minutes of action.

Leading the way offensively for the Heat were Norman Powell with 25 points, Nikola Jovic with 22, Jaime Jaquez with 20 and Andrew Wiggins with 19.

The Heat closed 22 of 46 on 3-pointers.

“It always helps if you make shots,” Spoelstra said.

Five Degrees of Heat from Monday night’s game:

— 1. Game flow: The Heat went up 14 early and led 41-29 at the close of the opening period. Then, after going up 15, they were left in a 63-63 tie at halftime.

With Jokic out, the Heat then moved to a 17-point lead in the third period, before going into the fourth up 110-99.

The Heat’s 47 points in the third quarter tied for the fourth-highest-scoring quarter in the franchise’s 38 seasons.

From there, the Heat again extended the lead at the start of a period, this time to a 19-point lead within the first two minutes of the fourth.

With 6:25 remaining and the Heat up 120-101, Denver pulled what remained of their starters and called it a night.

“The slower we play, the more average I think we become,” Spoelstra said.

— 2. Short night: Jokic was his typical sublime self in the first half for the Nuggets ... and then was gone.

On a final play of the first half, teammate Spencer Jones stepped on the foot of Jokic, who hyperextended his left knee.

That had veteran big man Jonas Valanciunas starting the second half in the middle for Denver.

Based on the statistics, it was a full night’s work for Jokic in his 19:21, closing with 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting, eight assists and five rebounds.

“His stat line at halftime was a stat line for an All-Star for a game,” Spoelstra said.

With Jokic out of the mix, the Heat opened the second half on an 18-6 run.

“Immediately, he knew something was wrong,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “We’ll find out more tomorrow. We’ll move on as a team.”

— 3. Bam back: Adebayo was back after missing the previous two games with back pain.

He took an aggressive initial approach, scoring the Heat’s first basket and taking five shots in his initial eight-minute stint, with five rebounds during that first stint.

Adebayo opened defensively against Jokic, but then the assignments were shifted after an early Adebayo foul.

Adebayo already had his double-double secured by the start of the fourth quarter, not needed thereafter.

“I would have played him more, but I didn’t have to,” Spoelstra said. “He felt good after the game. That’s important for us.”

Adebayo is now one game from tying Alonzo Mourning for third on the Heat’s all-time regular-season games list.

— 4. Revised rotation: With Adebayo back in the starting lineup, Larsson was shuffled to the bench, after starting the previous two games,

Larsson entered in the Heat’s first substitution along with Jaquez, with Dru Smith and Jovic then following together off the bench for nine deep.

That had Kasparas Jakucionis back in a waiting game, after appearing in the previous seven games, his only seven appearances of the season.

“It was a fantastic unit again, really created some separation,” Spoelstra said of his second unit.

The revised rotation again had Simone Fontecchio out of the rotation mix.

— 5. More Jovic: Not only did Jovic remain in the rotation, but was cast defensively at center against Jokic in the first period when Adebayo and Ware were on the bench.

During that stint, Jovic beat his teammate on the Serbian national team on a drive for an and-one layup and later converted a 26-foot 3-pointer as Jokic backed off defensively.

Jovic closed 7 of 12 from the field, including 5 of 8 on 3-pointers, with five assists and four rebounds.

“The ball is coming to me and the energy is finding me,” Jovic said. “I know I can play. I never questioned it. But I’ve got to show it every day.”

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