Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. drops 31 as Miami defeats Philadelphia without Jimmy Butler

December 26, 2023 Admin

MIAMI – Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s Christmas sweater was a Michael Jordan joint, a red ensemble with Jumpman logos spaced across the Heat rookie’s chest. They say Jordan is maybe the greatest to ever play – but even he didn’t do what Jaquez pulled off Monday night.

Jaquez scored 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the Miami Heat’s 119-113 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in one of the greatest rookie performances in NBA history on Christmas. By comparison, Jordan only scored 30.

“I don’t know if that means I’m better than Michael Jordan, although I am wearing his gear right now,” Jaquez said, his mop of a mane still wet from the shower but sporting that Jumpman sweater up on the dais. “I grew up watching these games, and to be able to play and have a career night … I just go back to all the hard work, late nights in the gym, just preparing for moments like this.”

The historic performance was a welcome sight for the NBA community at large after the two biggest stars coming into the game — reigning MVP and Philadelphia star center Joel Embiid, and Heat star forward Jimmy Butler — both were ruled out with injuries. Butler, who’s missed three games now with a calf strain, was replaced in the lineup by Jaquez.

The 18th pick in the draft and a four-year college player at UCLA, Jaquez responded with the seventh-most points by a rookie on Christmas, but is only the fifth first-year man to go for at least 30 points and 10 boards in his first game on the NBA’s marquee day of the regular season. The last time that happened was 38 years ago. A rare night indeed.

LeBron James scored 34 points in his rookie Christmas game 20 years ago. Patrick Ewing, the last rookie to post at least 30 and 10, had 32 points and 11 rebounds in 1985. Wilt Chamberlain (45 points, 34 rebounds, LOL), Oscar Robertson (32 points, 15 boards) and Walter Bellamy (35 points, 18 rebounds) pulled it off in consecutive years, from 1959 through 1961, respectively. Then Ewing. Then Jaquez.

“It’s not particularly Christmas Day why he had 31 and 10,” said Heat star center Bam Adebayo, who was not too bad himself with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks. “I feel like he was destined to get 31 and 10 his rookie year because he’s that mature. He’s been through four years of college being the No. 1 option, No. 2 option, having to learn how to win games. Obviously we got a great group of guys around him, and he’s flourishing.”

Jaquez, whose 13.7 points per game rank behind only Victor Wembanyama (18.5), Chet Holmgren (17.2) and Brandon Miller (14.6) among rookies, has scored in double figures in 16 of his last 17 games and is averaging 16.1 points over his last 23 contests. On Monday he shot 11 of 15 from the field, 8 of 8 from the foul line, and led all players with five offensive rebounds.

Jaquez scored 10 points, and corralled three of those offensive boards, in a fourth quarter that was nip and tuck until a Duncan Robinson 3 put Miami ahead by 9 points with 2 minutes left.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said he “definitely” did not call a play for Jaquez in the second half, despite his hot hand.

“He has a moxie, he has an experience level that, you can feel that it transcends his age,” Spoelstra said. “He just makes winning plays.”

Spoelstra then compared Jaquez’s ability — and desire — to do more than just score to the way Butler plays.

“You wouldn’t do this with Jimmy, but Jimmy literally can just play the entire game without the ball and figure out how to get 20 points without a play called, if you challenge him to do that,” Spoelstra said. “And all of those plays in between, he would just dominate all that. It probably should be part of the NBA (rookie symposium each summer) — let’s talk about what winning basketball is. Here’s what AAU basketball is, it doesn’t necessarily win. And actually show examples of what that actually looks like because there’s a disconnect between what’s out there and what actually wins. And it’s tough for young players because all they’re judged on is that final column on the box score — whether you can put points in the basket. But there’s so much more to this game.”

The Sixers were led by 27 points from Tobias Harris and 25 from Kelly Oubre Jr., whose 3-pointer with 6:12 left in the fourth tied the game. Philadelphia trailed by as many as 21 early in the third. With Embiid (who is having a historic season with 13 consecutive games with at least 30 points and 10 boards) out and the Sixers getting pounded on the glass (outrebounded 56-36), they needed more from Tyrese Maxey, who shot 4 of 20 from the field. Maxey was 0 of 9 in the first half and 2 for 18 at one point before making his final two shots.

Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse said it was still unknown if Embiid, who suffered the injury Friday, would rejoin the team for a game Wednesday in Orlando. Nurse also said he didn’t think Embiid’s absence would become lengthy.

Miami’s plan coming in was for Caleb Martin to hound Maxey on defense, (a job that may have gone to Butler), but Martin sprained his ankle with 3:17 left in the first quarter and did not return. Spoelstra turned to R.J. Hampton and Jamal Cain for extended minutes, because Miami was also missing Josh Richardson (back) and Haywood Highsmith (illness).

“Gotta flush it,” said Maxey, who is enjoying what is easily the best season of his career, at 26.4 PPG., as the Sixers’ second option on offense behind Embiid. “A lot of those looks are shots I shoot every day. There was a couple of times where a dude was off balance, I had gotten so much separation that I was open, it just didn’t go in.”

The Heat are now 12-2 all time on Christmas Day — the best Christmas winning percentage in the NBA — and have won nine straight on Christmas, all under Spoelstra.

Tyler Herro added 22 points for Miami and Robinson contributed 16 off the bench. Butler has missed the last three games with a strained left calf, and while Spoelstra said Butler would accompany the Heat on their upcoming western trip, he said he didn’t know the exact timeline for Butler’s return to play.

It appears they have someone reliable to fill in until Butler heals. The rookie in the Jumpman sweater.