ORLANDO, Fla. — A year ago, Max Strus and Gabe Vincent were role players, practically bit players, toiling for the Miami Heat on two-way contracts.
But the Miami Heat saw more from the undrafted prospects, making clear they envisioned more, signing both to standard contracts in August.
Friday night, there was another return on investment, both establishing career scoring highs in the Heat’s 115-105 victory over the Orlando Magic at Amway Center.
Yes, the Magic were severely depleted by COVID protocols and injuries, to the degree they had to sign four players hours before tipoff.
But it also was the Heat continuing to play amid the injury absences of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Markieff Morris and Victory Oladipo.
Enter Strus and Vincent.
With 20 points in the second period, Strus rolled to 32 points, surpassing his previous career high of 25.
With 18 in the third, Vincent scored 27 after establishing a career high with 26 in Wednesday night’s victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on the second stop of this four-game trip that concludes Sunday against the Detroit Pistons.
Factor in 15 assists from Kyle Lowry, 15 points from P.J. Tucker and 12 rebounds from Omer Yurtseven and the Heat made it four victories in their last five games. Five Degrees of Heat from Friday night’s game:
1. Strus sets tone: Strus ended the scoring in the first quarter with a 3-pointer and then opened the second-period scoring with a 3-pointer.
The 3-pointer to start the second set the tone for what turned onto a 20-point period for Strus, who shot 7 of 9 from the field and 5 of 6 on 3-pointers in the quarter.
Strus had six 3-pointers by the intermission, tying his career high for a game.
Strus’ 23 points at the half eclipsed his previous high for a half, which was 16 twice, including earlier this month against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Strus later converted a four-point play early in the fourth quarter.
2. Vincent again: A game after hitting a decisive 3-pointer in Philadelphia, Vincent took another step with his game.
This time, Vincent took some of his play inside, with the series of drives that threw off the timing of Orlando’s big men.
The game was Vincent’s fourth consecutive start, after making one start in his first 23 appearances.
3. Lowry orchestrates: Lowry was up to 10 assists at the intermission and had 13 going into the fourth quarter.
It was another night when Lowry opted to orchestrate, with only six shot attempts in hi 11-point performance.
4. Who?: The Magic were in scramble mode throughout the day, including canceling their morning shootaround as they scrambled to meet the NBA requirement of at least eight players in uniform.
They positioned themselves by using emergency 10-day contracts on four players from their G League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic: Admiral Schofield, Aleem Ford, Hassani Gravett and BJ Johnson, a former Heat training-camp prospect.
In COVID protocols for the Magic were Mo Bamba, Ignas Brazdeikis, R.J. Hampton, Terrence Ross and Moritz Wagner.
Also out for the Magic were Cole Anthony, Michael Carter-Williams, Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Jonathan Isaac, E’Twaun Moore and Jalen Suggs.
Then, in the second quarter, the Magic’s Wendall Carter Jr. was taken off in a wheelchair after banging his right knee with Max Strus.
5. (Very) early concern: With the Magic utilizing what remained of their NBA-proven talent at the outset, Orlando moved to an 18-8 lead.
As the Magic’s G League-level bench then entered the equation, the Heat strung together a 15-0 run, eventually moving to a 31-22 lead at the end of the first quarter.
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