Heat break Denver duck without Wade Fri Nov 16, 2012 2:24am EST (Reuters) - The defending champion Miami Heat claimed a rare road win over the Denver Nuggets 98-93 on Thursday despite being without the services of eight-times All-Star Dwayne Wade. The Heat led throughout but needed to survive a late Nuggets rally to claim a first victory in Denver since January 2002. Despite trailing by as many as 19 points on the night, the Nuggets (4-5) were just one behind with 65 seconds remaining but Danilo Gallinari's wide-open three-point shot fell woefully short. Norris Cole then stuck a dagger in the home fans heart by nailing a triple of his own just 14 seconds later. Wade sat out the contest at the Pepsi Center in Denver after spraining his left foot earlier this week against the Los Angeles Clippers but the Heat overcame his absence to move to 7-3. Three-time league MVP and eight-time All-Star Lebron James took charge for the Heat, leading the team with 27 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists. He was helped by Shane Battier (18 points), Chris Bosh (14) and Mike Miller (12), in what was an impressive team performance. The Heat were on fire from distance, claiming 39 points at 48 percent from outside the three-point arc compared to the Nuggets 18 points at 30 percent. (Reporting by Ben Everill in Los Angeles. Editing by Patrick Johnston)