The Miami Heat defeated the Washington Wizards 121-114 to record their second victory of the year.
In Friday night’s exhibition, forward Kyle Kuzma led the Wizards in scoring, as they dropped to 1-4 on the season. Despite their poor start to the season, the Heat showed promise in tonight’s win.
Here’s a look at five major takeaways:
1. Tyler Herro’s dominance as the number one option continues
For the fifth consecutive game, Herro has led the Heat in scoring. He wrapped up the win against the Wizards with 24 points on 52.9 percent shooting. Not to mention, he was a single assist away from recording a triple-double.
2. Duncan Robinson is the most important part of the Heat’s second unit
Robinson has shown on various occasions this season why he is valuable to the organization. He is known for his spot-up three-point shooting but has diversified his game this season. He ended the game with 18 points and six assists on 50 percent shooting from three-point range.
3. Jimmy Butler does not need to score 20 or more points for Miami to succeed
Butler scored exactly 20 points for the second time this year but is averaging 16.5 on the season. Due to Herro’s apparent All-Star leap, he will not need to score for the Heat to win. Instead, Butler should focus on impacting the game as a leader.
4. Jaime Jaquez Jr. has the potential to start once he develops
The rookie out of UCLA continues to show flashes. Jaquez scored nine points along with five rebounds, three assists, and a steal against the Wizards. Because of injuries to Caleb Martin and Kevin Love, Jaquez is finding the floor more than expected.
5. The Heat’s offense is not the problem
In three of Miami’s six games, they have scored over 110 points. This proves their lack of success stems from the defensive end. The Heat’s biggest problem shines in the fourth quarter when they fail to sustain their lead.
