DeMar DeRozan scored nine of Sacramento’s 11 points in the second overtime, powering the Kings to a 123-118 victory over the Miami Heat on Monday night and extending their winning streak to a season-high five games under interim coach Doug Christie. The Kings, playing with renewed energy under Christie, showed grit in overcoming a tied game at the end of regulation (102-102) and the first overtime (112-112).
Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. also notched a triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Tyler Herro led the Heat with 26 points. However, Herro’s costly 8-second violation late in the fourth quarter and Jaquez’s missed free throws with 3 seconds left in the first overtime gave Sacramento the needed opportunities. Terry Rozier added 18 points, and Haywood Highsmith contributed 14 for Miami, who remain winless in three overtime road games this season.
The turning point came in the second overtime when DeRozan took over, hitting a key 3-pointer and three step-back jumpers that stunned the Heat. The Heat, now 4-7 without Jimmy Butler this season, struggled in the clutch, marking a disappointing end to an otherwise competitive game. Following a frustrating result, let’s grade the Heat players for their performances in this hotly contested matchup.
Tyler Herro: A-
Stats: 26 PTS, 7 REB (1 OREB, 6 DREB), 4 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 2 PF, 11-25 FG, 4-10 3PT, 0-0 FT, -6, 49 MIN
Tyler Herro led the Heat with 26 points and added 7 rebounds and 4 assists in 49 minutes of action. He was aggressive offensively, hitting 11-of-25 shots, including 4-of-10 from deep. While Herro’s shooting kept Miami in the game, his critical 8-second violation late in regulation hurt the Heat’s chances in a tightly contested matchup. Despite the mistake, his scoring output and leadership were evident throughout.
Jaime Jaquez Jr.: A-
Stats: 16 PTS, 12 REB (4 OREB, 8 DREB), 10 AST, 5 STL, 1 BLK, 3 TO, 3 PF, 7-15 FG, 0-2 3PT, 2-4 FT, -4, 46 MIN
Jaquez had an impressive triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists while contributing 5 steals and a block. His all-around performance was one of Miami’s bright spots, but his missed free throws with 3 seconds left in the first overtime were costly. Even so, Jaquez showed tremendous potential and poise in his 46 minutes on the floor.
Terry Rozier: B
Stats: 18 PTS, 7 REB (2 OREB, 5 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 4 PF, 6-15 FG, 2-8 3PT, 4-4 FT, -2, 41 MIN
Rozier scored 18 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, complementing his efforts with 3 assists and a steal. He was steady at the free-throw line, going 4-for-4, but his shooting efficiency (6-of-15 FG, 2-of-8 3PT) left room for improvement. Rozier provided consistent effort but fell short in delivering clutch moments.
Haywood Highsmith: B
Stats: 14 PTS, 6 REB (2 OREB, 4 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 5-8 FG, 2-4 3PT, 2-3 FT, 0, 46 MIN
Haywood Highsmith was solid with 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks, shooting an efficient 5-of-8 from the field, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. His hustle and defensive contributions gave Miami valuable support, but his performance wasn’t enough to push the team over the line in the second overtime.
Bam Adebayo: B-
Stats: 18 PTS, 12 REB (2 OREB, 10 DREB), 2 AST, 4 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 6-19 FG, 1-5 3PT, 5-6 FT, -3, 45 MIN
Bam Adebayo posted a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds while adding 4 steals and a block. However, his offensive struggles (6-of-19 FG, 1-of-5 3PT) stood out, and he couldn’t provide the interior dominance Miami needed. His solid defense kept him relevant, but his shooting inefficiency limited his overall impact.
Nikola Jovic: C+
Stats: 12 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 3-8 FG, 0-4 3PT, 6-6 FT, 0, 21 MIN
Nikola Jovic scored 12 points in 21 minutes, with most of his production coming from the free-throw line (6-of-6 FT). He added 3 rebounds and a block but struggled from the field (3-of-8 FG, 0-of-4 3PT). While his energy was noticeable, his shooting inconsistency and lack of assists lowered his grade.
Duncan Robinson: C
Stats: 8 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 4 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 3-8 FG, 2-7 3PT, 0-0 FT, -2, 25 MIN
Duncan Robinson contributed 8 points and 4 assists in 25 minutes, hitting 3-of-8 shots, including 2-of-7 from three-point range. While he made some nice passes, his shooting inefficiency and defensive limitations made his impact on the game minimal. He had moments but failed to stand out.
Kel’el Ware: C
Stats: 6 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 2-3 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-4 FT, -2, 13 MIN
Ware played limited minutes (13) but made the most of his opportunities with 6 points on 2-of-3 shooting. He added 3 rebounds and a block but was largely a non-factor in the game’s critical moments. His performance was solid but lacked substance in a highly competitive matchup.
Pelle Larsson: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -6, 5 MIN
Pelle Larsson saw only 5 minutes of action and contributed little statistically, with just 1 rebound and 1 steal. His brief time on the floor didn’t provide enough data to assess his performance fairly.
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