Heat blown out 100-66 by Lakers in summer-league opener, with Nikola Jovic uneven in debut
Pedigree was on the Los Angeles Lakers’ side in Saturday’s summer-league opener in San Francisco. Shooting clearly was not on the Miami Heat’s side, in what turned into a 100-66 loss at Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors.
Against a summer roster that featured Scotty Pippen Jr., son of the Hall of Fame forward, and Shareef O’Neal, son of former Heat center Shaquille O’Neal, the Heat shot 5 of 18 from the field in the first quarter, 9 of 44 in the first half, closing at .280 from the field.
“It’s a rough score to look at,” said Heat assistant coach Malik Allen, who is guiding the team’s summer roster.
The Heat are playing the three games at the California Classic with somewhat of a B Team, with Omer Yurtseven and Marcus Garrett to join the roster in a week for the upcoming Las Vegas Summer League.
“We just didn’t get in a good rhythm,” Heat first-round pick Nikola Jovic said. “Our whole team was kind of off.”
In his NBA debut, Jovic started at forward, closing with three points on 1-of-6 shooting and three rebounds in 20:39. The Serbian 19-year-old missed his first four shots before converting a third-quarter 3-pointer.
“I know he wanted to play better,” Allen said. “I just think it was moving really fast.”
Jovic signed his four-year rookie-scale contract prior to the game.
“I told him just to keep his head up,” Allen said. “He was frustrated. That learning curve is going to continue to be there for him.”
Jovic said it was a first step toward something better.
“I missed some shots,” he said. “Defensively I think I was all right.
“Right now, I don’t know where my spot exactly is. We’re still learning where I fit.”
Of putting pen to paper on his first NBA contract shortly before the game, he said, “I still cannot believe that.”
Other Heat starters included 2021-22 roster players Haywood Highsmith, Javonte Smart and Mychal Mulder, with undrafted center Orlando Robinson rounding out the first five.
Highsmith added 11 points for the Heat, converting three 3-pointers, also grabbing eight rebounds.
“He was good, competed on both sides of the floor,” Allen said of Highsmith. “He was one of the bright spots.”
Smart scored 13, but was 1 of 8 on 3-pointers. Mulder closed 3 of 10 for seven points.
Pippen scored 12 for the Lakers, with O’Neal adding six points and six rebounds.
Among those on hand to support the Heat’s summer squad was Heat guard Gabe Vincent, who earlier in the week had his $1.8 million salary guaranteed for next season.
The game featured the NBA’s first assessment of a “take foul,” when the Heat were called for intentionally fouling to stop play amid a Lakers transition possession in the first half. That led to one Lakers free throw, with Los Angeles retaining possession.
The NBA is experimenting with the rule during summer league, with possible adoption next season.
The Heat’s summer roster next plays at 5 p.m. Eastern Sunday (NBA TV) against a similar roster of rookies, draft picks, young players, prospects and free agents from the Sacramento Kings.
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