Jacari McRae | October 30th, 2019
Here are my four takeaways from the Miami Heat‘s 112-97 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
Jimmy’s back
Jimmy Butler made his Heat season debut Tuesday against the Hawks. And he immediately showed his impact early. Butler got off to a hot start by making his first four shots and scoring 12 points in the first quarter. With other players stepping up, no late-game heroics were needed this time.
Jimmy Butler off to a perfect 4/4 start in his Heat debut 🔥 pic.twitter.com/36yd3lByVM
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 30, 2019
Butler would finish the game with 21 points, five rebounds, and three steals.
Tyler steals the show
Tuesday night was supposed to about Butler until Tyler Herro went off. Before Tuesday’s game, most of the talk was about Herro’s teammate Kendrick Nunn, who’s emerging as a serious candidate for the Rookie of the Year award. But on Tuesday, it was the Herro show. Herro scored 19 points in the second period, leading the Heat to a double-digit lead at halftime.
Tyler Herro GOES OFF for 19 points in the second quarter alone 😱 pic.twitter.com/ZaBRtr74v3
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 30, 2019
Herro’s 29 points off the bench were the most by a Heat rookie since Dwyane Wade. It’s also the most points ever scored by a Heat rookie off the bench, topping the 28 by Michael Beasley on March 4, 2009.
More Chris Silva time
The Heat’s two-way center Chris Silva was once again featured in the team’s rotation, with Bam Adebayo receiving two fouls and Derrick Jones Jr sidelined with the groin injury. The Heat center played 14 minutes and finished the game with 2 points and 5 rebounds.
Tuesday also marked the day the 45-day clocks starts ticking on the two-way players. A player on a two-way contract must spend at most 45 days with an NBA team during the G-league season. To keep Silva on the roster past the 45-day limit, the Heat will have to convert his contract to a standard NBA contract. The Heat currently has an available roster spot but lacks the available cap space to sign a player under the hard cap. If the Heat wants to keep Silva on the roster, they’ll to create more cap space via trade or buyouts(unlikely).
Dion Waiters reinstated, but his season debut remains on hold
The Heat reinstated Dion Waiters before Tuesday’s game against the Hawks. However, the Heat shooting guard remained inactive for the fourth consecutive game. Waiters was suspended Oct. 19 for conduct detrimental to the team. Waiters’ suspension officially ended last Thursday but the guard didn’t travel with the team on the road trip.
With the emergence of Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro, it appears Waiters will have to earn a spot in the team’s rotation when he returns. Or IF he returns at all.
Next up: HEAT at Hawks on Thursday. Tipoff at 7pm Eastern.
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Main Credit Image: Photo by Streeter Lecka https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiD29aTqsTlAhWPm-AKHZFSCsIQjB16BAgBEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftherookiewire.usatoday.com%2F2019%2F10%2F21%2Fzion-williamson-injury-tyler-herro-rookie-of-the-year%2F&psig=AOvVaw2B1i8FZ0FyC73Q_AHcd92F&ust=1572536482761454