Heat tops Hawks in NBA pre-season
MIAMI — Justise Winslow's first game in a while was a success, and that's a good sign for the Miami Heat.
Winslow had six points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots in 23 minutes, and the Heat topped the Atlanta Hawks 96-90 in the pre-season opener for both teams Sunday night (Monday Phl time).
Winslow missed most of last season because of shoulder surgery, and one of the major questions in the Heat pre-season is how the No. 10 pick in the 2015 draft out of Duke will fit again in the Miami rotation. He was the first sub in after starting forward James Johnson got into early foul trouble, and made 3 of his 6 shots.
"You can see that there isn't any hesitation in his play or any lack of aggressiveness," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He's being who he's meant to be — a player ... contributing in a lot of different ways."
Miami scored the last eight points of the third quarter, then went on a 120 run in the fourth to help put the game away.
Tyler Johnson led Miami with 14 points. Josh Richardson finished with 12 points, Rodney McGruder scored 10 and new addition Kelly Olynyk added nine points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Dewayne Dedmon scored 12 on 5 for 7 shooting for Atlanta. Take him away, and the rest of the Hawks shot 26 for 80.
T'WOLVES 108, LAKERS 99
Lonzo Ball's preseason debut was a struggle at times, with the Lakers' guard and No. 2 overall pick going 2 for 9 from the floor. But he had eight assists, seven rebounds and — maybe most telling — turned the ball over just three times in 36 minutes.
Shabazz Muhammad scored 22 points and Taj Gibson added 18 for Minnesota. Kyle Kuzma scored 19 for the Lakers.
Minnesota led by 20 at one point, even with Andrew Wiggins shooting 3 for 12.