The NBA Summer League is in full swing in Las Vegas. A red-hot Max Strus from the Miami Heat caught fire on Wednesday evening with a game-high 32 points, including a sudden death, game-winning 3-pointer in double overtime to lead the Heat to a 97-94 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
According to NBA Summer League rules, the first team to score in the second overtime frame will be declared a winner. The Miami Heat won the opening tip to start the second overtime frame. The tip fell into Strus’ hands and dribbled the ball past half-court before Miami Heat coach Malik Allen called a clear-out play for Strus.
“I’m confident, and got too much space, so I just had to shoot my shot,†said Strus. “We shared the ball really well tonight.â€
Strus simply pulled up a couple of feet behind the 3-point line and knocked down the game-winner to lead the Heat to a sudden-death victory over the Grizzlies.
From inside the arena… Max Strus fires for the @MiamiHEAT sudden death double OT win! #NBASummer pic.twitter.com/PJUnwEqtPs
— NBA (@NBA) August 11, 2021
Strus finished the game with 32 points and went a torrid 7-for-17 from 3-point range. The DePaul product went undrafted, but played a season with the Windy City Bulls in the NBA G League. He appeared in just two games with his hometown Chicago Bulls in the 2019-20 season.
Last season, Strus played for the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the G League before joining the Miami Heat for 39 games in the regular season. He averaged 6.1 ppg in 13 minutes of action off the bench while shooting 33.8% from 3-point range.
If Strus continues to play this well in the rest of the summer league, the Heat will have another shooter in their arsenal. It will also provide Pat Riley a backup plan if he decides to trade Tyler Herro or Duncan Robinson after the Heat signed Kyle Lowry.
