The Miami Heat came into Wednesday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks reeling from a defeat on Monday night. Losing badly to Memphis then and after losing to these same Milwaukee Bucks last Saturday, it would be imperative to try and get a win on Wednesday.
That wouldn’t be easy though, as of course, they’d be without Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. That didn’t seem to matter though as the game tipped off and neither as they progressed throughout.
Not only did the Miami Heat get good showings at key times from their main contributors, but they received big-time contributions from their role guys.
When you think about “filling in for Jimmy Butler” and then of Caleb Marin in the starting lineup, particularly, you didn’t know it would be like this. A huge reason for the Heat’s victory on Wednesday, he would finish with 28 points, eight rebounds, and three assists on 6-8 from range and 9-12 from the field.
The Miami Heat needed a win after dropping their last two. They would get it on the backs of the role guys Wednesday, defeating the mighty Milwaukee Bucks.
Though he didn’t really play a ton throughout, Max Strus would also come in and be a microwave when the Heat needed it the most. Across the first four minutes or so of the fourth period, Strus would score 11 huge points for the Heat.
Off of three tough makes from deep and a lay-in off a backdoor look from P.J. Tucker, Max’s own 11-7 run over Milwaukee would be exactly what the Heat needed to catch their breaths, maintain pace, and give them some legroom to work with down the stretch.
On top of that, KZ Okpala had his most meaningfully effective and productive game in the last few seasons, arguably. In 32 minutes, he had 10 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal on 4-5 shooting from the field and 2-2 from range.
He got the opportunity and made the most of it on Wednesday. That’s what they all did and what they are supposed to do.
This is the literal meaning of starring in your role and they did that. That’s what allowed the Miami Heat to beat the bucks on Wednesday.
Well, that and some big-time play from regular Heat starters like P.J. Tucker and Kyle Lowry. But, let’s give some shine to the other guys, as they were huge in a colossal Miami Heat win.