JD Davison and Jaden Springer made shots to keep up with Jaime Jaquez and the Heat’s overwhelming offensive performance in Miami’s Summer League opener.
Las Vegas —On Saturday, Jaime Jaquez Jr. appeared to be the sole out of place player. A factor that largely explains Saturday’s outcome, a more easy Miami victory than the 119-114 final score indicated, but raised multiple questions about the roster players and those on the verge of making Boston’s squad.
In his debut Celtics game, Baylor Scheierman finished 4-for-6 from the field with six assists and no turnovers, despite a shaky start. Anton Watson recorded eight points and blocked Jaquez. Neemias Queta had 20 points and nine rebounds, but missed numerous open opportunities around the rim. JD Davison had a relatively clean game, ending 6-for-7 with 19 points and seven assists, with most of his four mistakes occurring during a late rally attempt. Jordan Walsh struggled, going 1-for-8 with four points.
Scheierman, Walsh, Jaden Springer, Davison, and Queta all missed their first three attempts from the right corner to begin the game. He did, however, produce necessary tries behind the line, since the Celtics had only 12 deep shots at halftime. Davison’s shooting and Queta’s pressure on the rim and offensive glass kept Boston in the game early, but Jaquez emerged as the best player on the floor, driving constantly and putting defensive pressure on the ball all game. Midway through the first quarter, both teams were knotted at 22-22 when Scheierman switched to an on-ball role with Boston’s second unit. In one minute of play, he hit Watson with a bounce pass, led Drew Peterson to the rim for two points, then assisted Jahmi’us Ramsey for three points after an offensive rebound. The Celtics lead 32-28 after one.
In the second quarter, Davison made three of four free throws, giving Boston a one-possession lead. However, Jaquez, Ware, and Josh Christopher scored on consecutive possessions to reverse the lead. Davison collided with Christopher in the backcourt, giving up the ball with an offensive penalty and causing the Celtics to struggle against Miami’s ball pressure.
As Boston’s spacing failed, Queta and others came up against a brick wall in the half court. Scheierman scored his first basket late in the first, converting a Queta handoff into a floater, but Ware blocked Queta on the previous possession before Walsh missed back-to-back threes before halftime, yelling in the right corner as the buzzer sounded. Miami led 61-53.
Springer, who led the Celtics in scoring with 23 points, started Boston with a corner three and steal, setting up Scheierman for his first three. He collected a lost ball along the baseline and fed Queta for a reverse layup to tie the game at 63, before moving into the mid-range to beat the Heat’s press away from Walsh bringing the ball up. Walsh’s difficulties worsened after halftime, with a turnover midway through the third that set up Christopher for an easy dunk while Queta followed and roared from behind. The Heat led 89-82 in the fourth quarter after Cole Swider nailed back-to-back threes, answering another pull-up three from Springer and a dunk by Keshad Johnson.
Less thrilling plays broke Boston on Saturday and continued into the fourth. Christopher’s uncontested slashing layup. Jaquez’s simple putback. Zyon Pullin runs during transition. Jahmi’us Ramsey’s 16 points in 14 minutes off the bench saved the Celtics from an early layup line. Miami never built a lead of more than eight points despite shooting 61.5% from the floor. With 2:35 remaining, Scheierman made a corner three in front of Boston’s bench, cutting the Heat’s lead to three. However, back-to-back finishes by Kel’el Ware and Jaquez, driving through a foul by Queta, halted the comeback attempt.
The Celtics resume Summer League play against the Lakers on Monday at 10:30 a.m. EST.
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