J.R. Smith scored 28 points and made a season-high eight 3-point baskets as the Denver Nuggets routed the visiting Miami Heat 130-102 on Thursday.

Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points and Chauncey Billups had 13 assists for Denver (22-16), which received little resistant from a Miami squad playing without injured LeBron James.

James sprained his left ankle late in Wednesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. He is expected to play Saturday when the Heat face the Chicago Bulls.

Without James, Miami (30-11) found itself down by 17 points at halftime and by 98-68 after three quarters en route to its worst loss of the season.

Chris Bosh lead the Heat with 24 points and Dwyane Wade tallied 16 points.

Nene had 17 points and nine rebounds for Denver. Arron Afflalo added 14 points and Ty Lawson scored 13 points.

Denver made 15-of-30 3-point attempts in the blowout. The 28-point victory gave the Nuggets a reprieve from the tension surrounding the persistent trade rumors involving Anthony.

Eddie House scored 15 points and Mario Chalmers scored 14 points for Miami, which won 21 of 22 games before losing to the Clippers and Nuggets on back-to-back nights.