Erik Spoelstra recalls that his players “ love this kind of scenario “. Namely having to win an away game, against one of the best teams in the West, while being deprived of three starters (Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier) and more.
So after the meeting, the Florida coach can distribute good grades to almost all of its players. Bam Adebayo (28 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists)? “ Sensational on both ends of the pitch. » Caleb Martin (16 points)? “ Our ultimate X factor. » Jaime Jaquez Jr. (26 points)? “ His support game shows how advanced he is. » Kevin Love (19 points and 7 rebounds)? “ Retro Kevin Love, as good in short sequences as he has been in the past. »
Then, after discussing the distribution of Duncan Robinson (11 assists), the coach adds: “ The player of the match for us in the locker room was Delon (Wright). » Quite a trajectory for the latter who negotiated a “buyout” with the Wizards to join Miami only ten days ago. With the break linked to All-Star Weekend, he had not yet put on his new jersey.
Barely arrived, he was propelled into the starting position against his former team, with whom he had played around twenty matches in 2021. Above all, as the person concerned recalls, the playmaker had not had any playing time so consistent for a while. Last night, for the first time in his season, he was mobilized for more than 30 minutes (35 in total).
He knew what to expect
Evidence of a favorable impact. “ I don't think his stat line is spectacular to outsiders, but he definitely plays to win. He defends, in attack he really has a talent for knowing how to make the right choice. 35 minutes, he hasn't lost a ball. And he did important things. The 3-point baskets, but also the creation, the free throws at the end were very important », appreciates his coach.
Before scoring these two free throws ten seconds from the end, to close the debates, Delon Wright was sober. “ I wanted to play the way I know how. Be careful with the ball, defend well, deflect balls, and the rest comes by itself. My teammates found me for several 3-point baskets, it freed me to see them go in », Testifies the 31-year-old player, author of two award-winning baskets at the heart of the 17-2 inflicted by the Heat to end the third quarter.
He finished his match with 13 points (3/5 on shots, including 2/4 from distance, 5/6 on shots), 5 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 interceptions. “ We really introduced D-Wright to Heat culture tonight! “, says Bam Adebayo with a smile, recalling that the Heat did not bring in his new teammate “ for nothing “.
“ Playing against the Heat for years, I already knew. I already knew what to expect. It's still the 'next man up' mentality. No matter when we played the Heat, they had players on the sidelines, his replacement makes up for it. And they play the same characteristic style of play, so I knew coming in I was going to try to continue that way. », Finishes Delon Wright.
| Delon Wright | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2015-16 | TOR | 27 | 9 | 45.0 | 38.5 | 74.3 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 3.8 |
| 2016-17 | TOR | 27 | 17 | 42.2 | 33.3 | 76.4 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 5.6 |
| 2017-18 | TOR | 69 | 21 | 46.5 | 36.6 | 82.9 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 8.0 |
| 2018-19 * | All Teams | 75 | 23 | 43.4 | 29.8 | 79.3 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 8.7 |
| 2018-19 * | TOR | 49 | 18 | 43.3 | 33.3 | 86.9 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 6.9 |
| 2018-19 * | SAME | 26 | 31 | 43.4 | 25.6 | 74.2 | 1.1 | 4.3 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 12.2 |
| 2019-20 | DAL | 73 | 22 | 46.2 | 37.0 | 77.0 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 6.9 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 63 | 28 | 46.3 | 37.2 | 80.2 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 10.2 |
| 2020-21 * | DET | 36 | 29 | 46.4 | 34.8 | 78.9 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 10.4 |
| 2020-21 * | BAG | 27 | 26 | 46.2 | 39.8 | 83.3 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 10.0 |
| 2021-22 | ATL | 77 | 19 | 45.4 | 37.9 | 85.7 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 4.4 |
| 2022-23 | W.A.S. | 50 | 24 | 47.4 | 34.5 | 86.7 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 7.4 |
| 2023-24 | W.A.S. | 33 | 14 | 39.3 | 36.8 | 82.8 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 4.1 |
| Total | 494 | 21 | 45.3 | 35.4 | 80.5 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 7.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
