Jaquez’s 3-pointers, Ware’s double-double produce another Heat victory at summer league

LAS VEGAS — Jaime Jaquez Jr. didn’t have to be here; Kel’el Ware needs every one of these repetitions.

Each of the Miami Heat’s past two first-round picks came away with net gains in Monday’s 102-73 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Summer League on the UNLV campus.

Jaquez closed out his two-game summer-league limited engagement with 23 points in 25 minutes. While the No. 18 pick out of UCLA in the 2023 draft mostly toyed with the summer-level competition, there still were strides, namely his 3-of-5 3-point shooting Monday.

“Being able to make defenders really believe in my shot opens my drive game more,” Jaquez said ahead of his evening departure back to South Florida. “I just came ready to be a dog. There’s nothing better than getting game reps.”

For Jaquez, the game ended a two-week run in Las Vegas, having trained last week as a member of USA Basketball’s Select Team against the Team USA Olympic roster.

“We appreciate his willingness and openness to play in summer league,” said Heat assistant Dan Bisaccio, who is guiding the team’s summer roster.

Bisaccio said the 3-point shooting did not come as a surprise.

“That’s something he works on day in and day out,” he said of Jaquez.

Ware, who will be around through the weekend, as the 7-footer taken No. 15 out of Indiana learns this next level, closed with his second double-double of summer league, with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

While not necessarily playing with the force required against true NBA competition, with the Heat outscored when he was on the court Monday, Ware still mostly found his way to the right spots at the right time.

“We’re going to be on him daily.” Bisaccio said of getting Ware’s motor humming.

But he said Ware’s attacking of the glass was meaningful.

“The most important thing is he took that challenge,” Bisaccio said.

By contrast, there was the continued eye-opening energy of undrafted Arizona forward Keshad Johnson, again showing why the Heat immediately signed him to a two-way contract in the wake of the draft. An lively  presence throughout, Johnson closed with 11 points and seven rebounds.

As for guard play, undrafted Colorado State point guard Isaiah Stevens, a game after closing with 11 assists, this time turned to his offense, finishing with nine points. He is under an Exhibit 10 contract, assuring he will remain with the team at least through training camp.

While Stevens closed with seven assists this time, his passes were again on time, on target, with teammates at times unable to finish well-placed alley-oop attempts.

There also again was a bench boost by former Houston Rockets first-round pick Josh Christopher, who again took over with his offense in the fourth quarter, closing with 23 points.

Bisaccio revealed that Christopher has been working with the Heat since May.

“Our coaching staff got him ready,” he said.

Then they watched Christopher score 20 points on the fourth quarter on 7-of-9 shooting, including 5 of 7 on 3-pointers.

“That’s the goal.” Christopher said, “just getting better and doing the things they ask.”

The Heat opened with a lineup of Jaquez, Ware, Johnson, second-round pick Pelle Larsson and Zyon Pullin, the undrafted guard out of Florida who has been signed to a two-way contract.

The Heat trailed 20-18 at the end of the opening period, but then took a 41-33 lead into halftime and a 73-57 advantage into the fourth quarter.

Udonis Haslem and Josh Richardson were among the Heat connections taking in the game, with former Heat guard Tyler Johnson also in attendance.

Heat upcoming schedule

NBA Summer League

(Las Vegas, UNLV)

Wednesday, 3 p.m. vs. Mavericks, ESPN2

Friday, 9 p.m. vs. Raptors, ESPN+

(Plus at least one additional game on Saturday or Sunday.)