The pattern right now is that there is no pattern.

And that's a good thing for the Heat.

One game after Dwyane Wade scored 40 points against the Washington Wizards in a win, the Heat got a balanced offensive effort and matched the physical play of the Denver Nuggets for a 96-88 victory.

It was the Heat's first win against Denver since Dec. 2004, breaking an eight-game losing streak, and the loss was the first of the season for the Nuggets, who came into the game leading the league in scoring at 115.4 points a contest.

``We've been balanced, and it has been different guys each time,'' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Wade managed to lead the Heat in scoring with 22, but it came on an erratic 6-of-17 shooting. That left opportunities for Mario Chalmers, Jermaine O'Neal, Quentin Richardson and Udonis Haslem to contribute to what is probably the Heat's most impressive win of the young season.

The Nuggets came in with a reputation, and Spoelstra made sure his group recognized it.

A STREET FIGHT

``When we came in from shootaround, coach had on the board that it was going to be mano y mano,'' said Richardson, who defended Carmelo Anthony and still had enough energy to score 13 points with nine rebounds. ``It was going to be something like a street fight. This team is a physical bunch, and we were going to have to man up and play physical and not back down.''

The street fight aspect was obvious from the opening few possessions, with Anthony Carter undercutting Wade on a loose ball and sending him to the floor, and O'Neal setting a violent screen on Denver's Aaron Afflalo.

The Nuggets used the physical approach to force the Heat into six first-quarter turnovers, but Miami still managed to hold a two-point lead after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Heat found a way to escape the grasps of Nuggets players and started the game's decisive and extended run.

With the game tied 33-33 midway through the second, the Heat began a 41-13 run that essentially sealed the win.

NOT ALL WADE

And it wasn't Wade carrying the Heat through the impressive stretch.

Chalmers scored 13 of his 16 in that stretch, while O'Neal scored 10 of his 18.

``That was a good stretch right there,'' Spoelstra said. ``Even with a couple of guys out, they can put points on the board in a hurry.''

The Nuggets were without J.R. Smith and they lost Kenyon Martin after just 12 minutes played because of a left knee contusion.

Still, the Nuggets had Anthony, who scored 30 points but turned the ball over five times.

The Nuggets managed to piece together a run in the fourth quarter, with bench players leading the attack. But the final eight-point margin was as close as the game got.

Anthony didn't receive nearly the quality help Wade did. His most effective sidekick was Nene, who fended off foul trouble to contribute 11 points and eight rebounds while the game was still close.

Wade has no issues with the inconsistent scoring pattern. As long as the wins, especially against quality opponents, keep coming.

``As I continue to say, it's going to take that for us to be successful,'' said Wade, who scored in double figures for the 100th consecutive game, extending a team record. ``I enjoyed it. I really did.''

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