Recap: Heat Beat Pistons as Top-10 Picks Go Head-to-Head
By Wes Goldberg
Justise Winslow got the better of fellow rookie Stanley Johnson in the first of what’s sure to be many head-to-head battles to come.
64. 78. 110. Final. 73
Five players scored in double figures to help the Miami Heat to a 78-73 win over the Detroit Pistons Monday during Orlando Summer League. Leading the Heat was Justise Winslow, who went head-to-head with Stanley Johnson, who was picked two spots ahead of Winslow in the NBA Draft.
Here’s a look at some of the top performing players from the game:
Justise Winslow
Winslow outscored Johnson 17 to 14, but Johnson was the more efficient shooter of the two, making four of his five shots from the field compared to Winslow’s 5-of-15 performance. Winslow, who handled the ball for much of the game, made good decisions and was aggressive when he needed to be, getting to the line for 10 free throw attempts. The fun was on both ends of the court, with Johnson and Winslow guarding each other for most of the game. Both had their individual successes, but Winslow was impressive overall.
Willie Reed
One of the most impressive guys during Orlando Summer League play, Willie Reed had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. He was the focal point for a lot of what the Heat were doing on offense, with Winslow handling the entry pass to him in the post which led to some isolations for the center. Reed had what was likely the game-clinching offensive rebound in the final seconds of the game.
Josh Richardson
Richardson has the potential to be a standout 3-and-D guard in the NBA. Today he showed it, going 2-for-3 from beyond the arc and defending at a high level. He did have eight personal fouls (it takes 10 fouls to foul out in summer league), but he’ll learn to defend without fouling with time.
Tyler Kalinoski
Taking Tyler Johnson’s place in the game, Tyler Kalinoski was aggressive with his shot, going 4-of-11 from the field and 2-for-6 from beyond the arc. He finished with 12 points, five rebounds and three assists. He’s probably playing for a spot in the D-League at this point.
Seth Tuttle
Big man Seth Tuttle had 11 points, three rebounds and four assists and went an efficient 5-for-6 from his spot in the paint.
Joshua Smith
Big Joshua Smith, who weighs in at a massive 360 pounds, checked in and made an immediate impact for the eight minutes he was on the court. Smith scored five points and had three rebounds and an assist (which came on a very soft pass into the paint) and garnered the cheers of his teammates.
The Heat get a break on Tuesday before returning to summer league play against the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET on NBATV.