Not giving it any thought
After torrid start to season, rookie Nunn unfazed about recent shooting slump
MIAMI — It was looking as if it was going to be another one of those nights for Kendrick Nunn.
He missed nine of his first 11 shots in Tuesday’s 117-108 win over the Detroit Pistons and had just as many turnovers (four) as points through 3 1⁄2 quarters of play.
But in a time of necessity, Nunn flipped the switch and started to look more like the guy who became the first player since Kevin
Durant in 2007-08 to score at least 100 points in his first five career games.
Nunn made a pair of free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt to put the Heat up by 18 after the Pistons cut the lead from 29 to 16 midway through the third quarter.
He seemingly found his rhythm after getting to the line, scoring nine of the Heat’s next 12 points to help maintain the lead.
“We really needed it from the standpoint that they went to the zone and Jimmy [Butler] was making some plays in the paint and Kendrick found some open spots and was a recipient of Jimmy’s assists,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “But I like the fact [Nunn] was able to stay with it. In the first half, he wasn’t playing great basketball and was probably a little bit frustrated because he wanted to help the team.
“His heart is in the right place for sure. For him to gather himself in the second half and have that kind of contribution is a little bit unique. [It’s unusual] for a younger player to get past that and figure out a different way to help the team.”
Nunn added five more points in the fourth quarter to keep Detroit at bay, finishing with 20 points on 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc. It was his first 20-point game since a win over the Hawks on Oct. 31.
Nunn’s shooting numbers have cooled off
“I don’t really have a conscience on the offensive end.”
— Heat rookie guard Kendrick Nunn
since his historic start. After setting the NBA record for most points by an undrafted player through five games, he’s shot below 3% from the field and under 20% on 3-pointers.
But Nunn isn’t concerned about his misses.
“I don’t really have a conscience on the offensive end,” he said.
“A lot of that is his makeup,” Spoelstra said. “I’m sure the guys were talking to him. We communicate how important him being a threat is to our offense.
“He’s a talent. He’s a great shooter. He’s also a playmaker. He can do things off the catch or off the dribble, so we need that weapon.”
Nunn credits his evenkeeled nature to his upbringing.
“I guess my childhood days, just becoming mentally tough about things and fighting through adversity,” Nunn said. “I just remain the same throughout the game, either good or bad.
“[I] try to stay consistent as much as I can through ups and downs [and] just try not to let that get to me.”
Nunn’s offensive talent is clear, regardless of whether his shots are falling. Now the Heat are focused on fast-tracking him defensively.
“Kendrick, he’s a talent,” Udonis Haslem said. “Offensively, he’s a talent. We understand that he can fill it up and he can do a lot of things for us offensively.
“The thing we’re working with him on and the things that he’s going to continue to have to focus on is also defending in this league. People are going to put him in different situations, try to confuse him, try to get him to make mistakes. Those are things he has to work on.”