Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. scores 31 points, Miami beats Philadelphia without Jimmy Butler

MIAMI — Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s Christmas sweater is a Michael Jordan collaboration, a red suit with the Heat rookie’s Jumpman logo emblazoned on the chest. They say Jordan may be the greatest player of all time — but even he didn’t do what Jaquez accomplished Monday night.

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

“I don’t know if that means I’m better than Michael Jordan even though I’m wearing his gear right now,” said Jacquez, whose shaggy mane was still damp from the shower but wearing the same gear on the podium. Jumper sweater. “I grew up watching these games, and to be able to compete and have a career night…I just get back to all the hard work, staying up late in the gym, just preparing for moments like this.”

The historic performance was welcomed by the entire NBA community after two superstars – reigning MVP and Philadelphia star center Joel Embiid and Heat star forward Jimmy Butler – were sidelined with injuries. Butler missed three games with a calf strain and was replaced in the starting lineup by Jaquez.

Jax, the 18th overall pick in the draft and a fourth-year collegiate player at UCLA, ranked seventh in rookie scoring on Christmas Day but was only fifth in first-year games. First-year player who scores at least 30 points and 10 rebounds. This is his first game on the opening day of the NBA regular season. The last time this happened was 38 years ago. A rare night indeed.

20 years ago, LeBron James scored 34 points in his rookie Christmas game. Patrick Ewing was the last rookie to score at least 30 points and 10 points, with 32 points and 11 rebounds in 1985. Wilt Chamberlain (45 points, 34 rebounds, haha), Oscar Robertson (32 points, 15 rebounds) and Walter Bellamy (35 points, 18 rebounds) in consecutive years from 1959 to 1961 This achievement was achieved in the year. Then there’s Ewing. Then there’s Jacques.

“The reason he scored 31 points and 10 points wasn’t Christmas,” said Heat star center Bam Adebayo, who had 26 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks of his own. “I feel like he’s destined to score 31 points and 10 points his rookie year because he’s so mature. He spent four years in college being a first choice, a second choice, having to learn how to win games. Obviously, we’re in He’s got a great group of players around him and he’s thriving.”

Jaquez’s 13.7 points per game trail only Victor Wembanyama (18.5 points), Chet Holmgren (17.2 points) and Brandon Miller (14.6 points) among rookies. He scored in double figures 16 times in the game, averaging 16.1 points and 23 answers per game. On Monday, he shot 11 of 15 from the field, 8 of 8 from the free throw line, and grabbed a team-high five offensive rebounds.

Jaquez scored 10 points and grabbed three offensive rebounds, and the fourth quarter was tense until Duncan Robinson’s 3-pointer with 2 minutes left gave Miami a nine-point lead.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said he would “absolutely” not call a game penalty against Jax in the second half despite his hot hand.

“He has grit, his experience level, you can feel it’s beyond his years,” Spoelstra said. “He just made a winning performance.”

Spoelstra then compared Jaquez’s ability and desire to do more than just score like Butler.

“You wouldn’t do that to Jimmy, but if you challenge Jimmy to do that, Jimmy can actually play an entire game without the ball and figure out how to score 20 points without a game,” Si Boelstra said. “In every game in between, he’s going to dominate. It probably should be part of the NBA’s (rookie seminars every summer) – let’s talk about what winning basketball is. That’s what AAU basketball is, it doesn’t have to be will 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. It’s difficult for young players because they’re judged by the score in the last column – whether you Can score. But there’s more to this game.”

Tobias Harris led with 27 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. led with 25 before the 76ers tied the game on a 3-pointer with 6:12 left in the fourth quarter. flat. Philadelphia trailed by 21 points early in the third quarter. With Embiid (who was having a historic season with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in 13 consecutive games) sidelined, the Sixers’ rebounding took a hit (56 to 36). More help will be needed from Tyrese Maxey, who went 4-for-20 from the field. Maxey went 0-for-9 from the field in the first half and was 2-for-18 at one point before hitting his final two shots.

Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse said it’s still unknown whether Embiid, who was injured on Friday, will return to play with the team on Wednesday in Orlando. Nurse also said he doesn’t think Embiid will be out for too long.

Miami’s plan was to have Caleb Martin get after Maxey on defense (that job likely went to Butler), but Martin sprained his ankle with 3:17 left in the first quarter and did not return. Spoelstra turned to RJ Hampton and Jamal Kane for extended minutes, as Miami is also missing Josh Richardson (guard) and Haywood Highsmith (illness).

“Got to flush it,” said Maxey, who is enjoying easily the best season of his career, averaging 26.4 points as the Sixers’ second offensive option behind Embiid. “A lot of the looks I shot on a daily basis. There were a few times where a guy was off balance and I was so far apart that I was open but just not in.”

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

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

It appears they have a solid guy to fill the void until Butler is healed. Rookie wearing a Jumpman sweater.

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(Photo: Megan Briggs/Getty Images)