Maten steps up, Herro sets pace in win
Rookie guard from Kentucky scores 25 as Heat go to 6-0
LAS VEGAS Yante Maten scored the first seven points of the Miami Heat’s 96-92 summer-league victory Tuesday over the Orlando Magic. It was the start of something potentially big for the forward, and for far more than lifting the Heat to 6-0 in summer play.
The final score didn’t matter, but the eventual double-double by Maten just might have, perhaps even more than the 25 points scored by first-round pick Tyler Herro.
“It was really nice to see him have a bounce-back,” summer-league coach Eric Glass said. “Yante really stepped up and kept us in it. “Today he was sharp.” With a crowded roster and a hard cap, the Heat could find themselves with some accounting decisions sooner rather than later.
With Maten in the midst of a mostly nondescript summer and with fellow roster candidate Kendrick Nunn having exceled, there might only be room for one of the two when the Heat reach their Aug. 1 deadline for a $150,000 guarantee with each prospect.
After a breakout summer a year ago that led to a twoway contract, Maten had been largely pedestrian, with an undersized power game that hasn’t been as prolific in summer league as it was during a dominant season in the G League.
Nunn, by contrast, has offered the type of dramatic wing play that has become so essential in today’s game, as a player who could help the Heat rebuild some of the wing depth sacrificed with last season’s trades of Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington, the release of Rodney McGruder and then the retirement of Dwyane Wade.
Maten closed with 14 points and 13 rebounds Tuesday against a similar team of rookies, draft picks, free agents and young prospects from the Magic, in a decided step forward.
“I think it was a good performance, not just from me, but from everyone,” he said. “Just trying to be consistent is the biggest thing. I’ve always said that my whole career.’
Nunn finished with 19 points, eight assists and five rebounds.
“I know I’m a two way player,” Nunn said, making sure his defense was not overlooked. “That’s what I’ve been showing. I’m getting more comfortable running the one.”
Duncan Robinson added 14 points for the Heat, including four 3-pointers.
As for Herro, he continued to show he is a cut above summer-league competition, adding seven rebounds and five assists, the No. 13 pick in last month’s draft with 19 points by halftime.
“I’m more than a shooter, so I try to come out and prove it every game,” he said. “I’ve kind of come out every game and just tried to get everyone involved.”
Glass said Herro has lived up to the billing.
“This is the only Tyler I know,” he said. “He’s been showing this since the first day he stepped on the court with us. He can give us whatever we need.”
The Heat remained without second-round pick KZ Okpala, the forward out of Stanford selected at No. 32 last month. Okpala, who had to wait until Saturday for the completion of his trade to the Heat, practiced Monday for the first time with the team.
The Heat again went with a starting lineup of Herro, undrafted forward Chris Silva and their three summer-league players under NBA contracts: Robinson, Maten and Nunn.
Guard Charles Cooke was back for the Heat following a concussion during the Heat’s 3-0 run at last week’s California Classic in Sacramento.
Heat President Pat Riley made his summer-league debut, but declined to discuss personal, including reports of Heat interest in Russell Westbrook.
Others from the Heat organization in attendance were coach Erik Spoelstra and front-office members Andy Elisburg, Shane Battier, Keith Askins, Adam Simon, Chet Kammerer and Alonzo Mourning, whose son Trey Mourning is on the Heat summer roster.
The Heat complete the opening round of their Las Vegas summer-league play with a Wednesday 7 p.m. against the Minnesota Timberwolves on NBA TV. They then either will advance to the eight-team championship tournament or play one additional consolation game.