Tyler Herro continues to deliver in clutch for Heat — even at end of rough shooting night
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro was nearing the end of a rough shooting night, but he still had the confidence to take one of the most important shots of the game in the final seconds.
“That’s part of Tyler’s greatness, that he doesn’t let previous misses or miscues or whatever affect his confidence or assertiveness down the stretch,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Close game, clutch game, moment of truth, he’s fearless.”
With the Heat trailing by two points, Herro caught a pass from Jimmy Butler, dribbled to his right and threw a shoulder fake at his defender to create space. Herro took advantage of that space to get off a step-back three with four seconds left on the shot clock that went in, putting the Heat ahead by two points with 55.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter on the way to a much-needed 119-115 win against the Utah Jazz on Monday night at Miami-Dade Arena.
Before that clutch shot — his final shot of the game — Herro was just 4 of 15 from the field and 1 of 9 from three-point range. After that clutch shot, the Heat never trailed again as the three-pointer proved to be the game-winner.
Herro finished Monday’s victory with 18 points, six rebounds and two assists while shooting 5 of 16 (31.3 percent) from the field, 2 of 10 (20 percent) on threes and 6 of 6 from the foul line.
“I just shoot the same shot every time,” Herro said, with the Heat set to close a quick two-game homestand on Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies (7:30 p.m., Bally Sports Sun). “Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don’t. That’s part of basketball, and you got to mentally be prepared. If shots aren’t falling, you got be mentally strong enough to be able to take that shot at the end of the game and make it.”
Herro, 23, has proven to be exactly that this season.
In one-possession games with less than than a minute to play in the fourth quarter or overtime, Herro has totaled 27 points this season on an efficient 8-of-14 (57.1 percent) shooting from the field and 4-of-8 (50 percent) shooting on threes while making seven free throws. Jimmy Butler is the only Heat player who has scored more points than Herro in this situation this season with 34.
Around the NBA, Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox (40 points), Dallas’ Luka Doncic (35 points), Atlanta’s Trae Young (31 points) and Butler are the only players with more points than Herro in this situation this season. Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton is tied with Herro with 27 points.
“A lot of guys go for 1 for 9 and they won’t shoot that last shot,” Herro continued. “Some might say it’s a bad shot. But I’m going to stay confident and shoot the ball no matter what I’m shooting from the field. I do not care. I’m going to shoot, shoot, shoot and that’s what I do.”
That’s the mentality Spoelstra wants Herro to have, especially from behind the three-point line as opposing defenses continue to try to keep him out of the paint. Herro is shooting 37.6 percent on a career-high 8.1 three-point attempts per game this season.
“If I have any complaints, it’s not about the percentages of what he’s shooting from three. I’d like him to shoot three or four more,” Spoelstra said. “I think he got 10 up [Monday], but I think he had windows to get three or four more. He’s a brilliantly accurate shooter. If he can find different ways off the ball to come off screens, off handoffs, behind the screen. I think everybody is scheming him so hard to keep him out of the paint and limit his play-making that that can be the great equalizer and not everybody has that weapon that he has.
“When he shoots open threes, the whole team and the head coach wants him to take those opportunities.”
WHERE’S THE DEFENSE?
The Heat’s defense wasn’t bad in Monday’s win against the Jazz, but the unit has been below average since the All-Star break.
The Heat entered the All-Star break with the NBA’s fifth-ranked defensive rating (allowing 111.2 points per 100 possessions). In 11 games since the break, the Heat has the league’s 22nd-ranked defensive rating (allowing 117 points per 100 possessions).
The Heat’s half-court defense has taken a step back, entering the break ranked 11th in the NBA but ranked 19th in the 11 games since then. Miami has also allowed more second-chance and transition points since the break.
“If we really want to do something and really want to make some noise, let’s keep the offense where it is and get the defense up to par,” Butler said.
INJURY REPORT
The Heat ruled out Jamal Cain (G League), Nikola Jovic (G League), Orlando Robinson (G League) and Cody Zeller (broken nose) for Wednesday’s game against the Grizzlies.
Heat guard Kyle Lowry is listed as questionable with left knee soreness. Lowry has played in the last two games after missing 15 straight games because left knee pain.
This story was originally published March 14, 2023 at 12:21 PM.
