The Miami Heat’s reserves and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ reserves put on a show tonight, with Minnesota sneaking out a 125-124 win in a game where both starters stayed parked. It was a night for the end of the bench to make a case, and several players did exactly that.
Ryan Conwell was the biggest spark. After a rough start, he kept shooting, found a rhythm late and finished with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists without a turnover.
His night included a tough self-created fadeaway in crunch time, but the shot that stood out most was the full-speed sprint to the corner for a catch-and-shoot three. That looked like the kind of play Miami wants from him long term.
If he keeps facilitating like that, he could work his way into rotation minutes, especially if the second unit struggles to create offense once the regular season starts.
Niko Jovic also had a confidence-building outing. He attacked downhill, finished at the rim instead of drifting away from contact and posted 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.
What really popped was how he responded after two bad defensive possessions in a row. Rather than letting it snowball, he went right back at the basket and finished through contact for an and-1.
Vlad Goldin turned in what was easily his best game as a pro. He scored 18 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and added 2 assists, with his biggest moment coming late when he converted an and-1 putback layup to put Miami ahead against Rocco Zikarsky.
Ian Schieffelin also made his presence felt, tying for second on the team with 7 rebounds and likely leading the group in deflections. He shot 66.7% from deep on three attempts and did a little of everything.
Tre Donaldson opened the game running the offense and looked decisive getting to his spots and moving the ball. The shot wasn’t there, but the coaching staff will likely see beyond the box score and focus on the way he organized the team in a pinch.
Pelle Larsson handled the ball often too, and the takeaway was familiar: he doesn’t separate much, but he does draw fouls. In 24:54 before leaving with an illness, he still got to the line seven times.
Simone Fontecchio did his job, knocking down threes and shooting 57.1% from deep on seven attempts. Myron Gardner stayed active all night and once again brought energy, the kind that keeps a coach’s attention.
He hit 3 of 6 from three, added 7 rebounds and 5 assists, and while the ball-handling is not exactly his calling card, the effort was obvious. Bez Mbeng looks like a Sioux Falls project for now, while Nick Richards gave Miami the kind of backup center depth it wants, with shot blocking and rebounding that fit the role cleanly.
For a game with no starters and plenty of fringe roster names, the stakes were still real for the players involved. Miami got plenty of useful tape out of it, even if the final result went Minnesota’s way.
In Other News...
Heat Cap Pressure Is Building Around One Crucial Contract Decision
The Heats next round of roster planning is already starting to take shape, and it has less to do with the standings than with the cap sheet. The front office is weighing which young pieces deserve long-term commitments and which ones can be kept in the fold without squeezing future flexibility, with Pelle Larsson and Nikola Jovic each offering different levels of appeal as their contracts come into view.
Davion Mitchell is the name that makes the whole conversation more complicated. Miami has reason to value his impact and to expect outside interest if he keeps building on what he has shown, but the market can quickly turn a useful rotation guard into a tougher financial call than the team wants to make. The Heat have to decide how far they are willing to go before a sensible fit starts to look like a costly bet. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Suddenly Have A Real Backup Point Guard Decision
The Heat suddenly have a real decision brewing behind starter Davion Mitchell, and it comes at a position that often gets overlooked until the rotation tightens. With Miami still sorting out the backup point guard spot, the preseason has turned into a proving ground for two rookies, Ryan Conwell and Tre Donaldson, both of whom have been handed a chance to show they can help manage the offense and keep the team organized when Mitchell sits.
Dru Smith's preseason injury created the opening, but it also pushed the Heat into a longer look at what each rookie can bring right now. Conwell has flashed enough playmaking to force the conversation, while Donaldson has kept himself in the mix with his own case for minutes, and Miami does not appear close to making anything official yet. For a team that always values guard play, this is the kind of camp battle that can shape a rotation long after the exhibitions end. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Face One Trade Deadline Question In Their Backcourt
The Heats search for backcourt help is starting to come into focus as the February trade deadline gets closer, and Miles McBride has emerged as a name to watch. Miami is reportedly interested in the Knicks guard as it looks to add depth behind its perimeter rotation, with New Yorks situation putting McBride squarely in the middle of the conversation. For a Heat team that has leaned on roster flexibility and opportunistic moves in recent years, this is the kind of market that can quietly shape the rest of the season.
New Yorks stance is what makes the situation worth following, because McBride is on an expiring contract and the Knicks have already paused extension discussions. That creates room for trade chatter, and Miami has been mentioned in discussions that could involve several moving parts, including Tyler Kolek, Dru Smith and Simone Fontecchio. The exact framework is still taking shape, but the Heat clearly have a decision to make if they want to get ahead of a crowded deadline market. [Read more 🡒]