Miami Heat Defeat Portland Trail Blazers in Summer League Finale
By JoeMoore21
July 16, 2023 7:16 pm
The Miami Heat emerged victorious in their final Summer League game against the Portland Trail Blazers, clinching a convincing 104-78 win. Orlando Robinson of the Heat dominated the game, leading all scorers with an impressive stat line of 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. Despite the loss, the Blazers received strong performances from Doup Reath, who contributed 18 points, as well as Michael Devoe and Kris Murray who added 16 points and 12 points respectively.
The first quarter showcased exceptional shooting from the Blazers behind the arc, while the Heat excelled in other areas of the court. Portland shot 40% from three-point range, but the Heat held their ground by shooting 52.4% from the field overall, despite struggling from beyond the arc at 27.3%. Kris Murray and Jabari Walker played pivotal roles in the Blazers’ offense, combining for 10 of the team’s first 13 points. Orlando Robinson of the Heat scored 9 points in the quarter. At the end of the first, the Heat held a narrow 26-22 lead.
In the second quarter, the Heat initially extended their lead to nine points at 32-23 before the Blazers staged an impressive 13-0 run, giving them a 36-32 lead. Strong play from Devoe, who finished the half with 15 points and 5 assists, helped the Blazers maintain a four-point lead heading into halftime.
The Heat swiftly erased the Blazers’ lead with an 8-0 run to start the third quarter. Portland struggled to score for over three minutes as the Heat capitalized on their blocks, steals, and fast break opportunities, including two consecutive wide-open dunks. Miami dominated the quarter, outscoring the Blazers 28-7, and entered the final frame with a comfortable 76-59 lead. Orlando Robinson added 10 more points in the quarter, bringing his total to 25 for the game.
The fourth quarter witnessed a back-and-forth battle between the Heat and Blazers, but neither team managed to gain significant ground. Unfortunately for the Blazers, they remained at a roughly 20-point deficit throughout. Despite the blowout loss, Doup Reath provided a highlight for Portland with a powerful dunk at the start of the final quarter, showcasing his best performance of the Summer League.
Portland’s downfall came from an excessive number of turnovers, which the Heat capitalized on throughout the game. The Blazers recorded 24 turnovers, leading to easy transition baskets for Miami. The turning point of the game occurred early in the second half when the Blazers surrendered their lead due to their turnovers.
In other news, the Portland Trail Blazers wrapped up their Las Vegas tournament with a 3-2 record. Notably, star draftee Scoot Henderson made just one appearance in their first game against the Houston Rockets, while guard Shaedon Sharpe did not play against the Heat. Sharpe concluded the Summer League with an average of 17.0 points per game over four appearances, shooting 34.8% from the field and 27.3% from the three-point line. He also contributed 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.5 turnovers in an average of 27.9 minutes per game.
Despite the loss, the Blazers look ahead to the regular season with valuable experience gained from the Summer League as they aim to elevate their performance in the upcoming NBA season.
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