NBA: Kendrick Nunn stays hot with 28 points as Heat beat Hawks

By the Associated Press

ATLANTA — Kendrick Nunn is enjoying the best start of any undrafted player in NBA history. The rookie is taking the Miami Heat along for the ride.

Nunn scored a career-high 28 points to add to his record-setting start and Miami beat Atlanta 106-97 on Thursday night, giving the Heat two wins over the Hawks in three days.

Nunn’s 112 points are the highest total through the first five games for any undrafted player in NBA history. Connie Hawkins of the Phoenix Suns scored 105 points in his first five games of the 1969-70 season.

“It’s surreal a little bit,” Nunn said. “… All I needed was the opportunity.”

Nunn, a 6-foot-2 guard from Oakland University in Michigan, scored 14 points in the third quarter. He began his career with 24 points against Memphis on Oct. 23, and he has kept shooting. He has scored at least 24 points three times in Miami’s first five games.

“He can shoot it,” Hawks rookie Cam Reddish said. “I have a lot of respect for that guy.”

Another record-setting rookie, Tyler Herro, had 17 points. Herro scored 29 points off the bench in the Heat’s 112-97 win over Atlanta on Tuesday night to set a franchise record for a rookie reserve.

The rookies have helped Miami (4-1) enjoy a strong start.

Nunn and Herro are feeding off Jimmy Butler, who had 11 assists while scoring only five points. He added nine rebounds, six steals and blocked three shots.

The Heat had 29 assists with only 13 turnovers.

“To tell you the truth, that was winning basketball today,” Butler said.

Nunn was impressed by Butler’s play, especially the assists.

“That’s huge, for your star player to be unselfish like that,” Nunn said.

Butler had 21 points in his Heat debut on Tuesday night, but said he doesn’t have to score big to do his job. “I’m not here to score 50 points or whatever. … If we win, I’m good.”

Reddish filled in at point guard for Trae Young, who was held out with a sprained right ankle.

Jabari Parker led Atlanta with 23 points. DeAndre Bembry had 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

Miami held a lead of 18 points, but Atlanta made a late comeback attempt.

Bembry’s steal and basket cut Miami’s lead to 94-88 midway through the final period. Following a timeout, Meyers Leonard sank two 3-pointers for Miami, followed by a Nunn layup, for a 102-88 lead. Leonard had 16 points.

Reddish had nine points with four assists and only one turnover. Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce said Reddish had a good start before crossing the “fine line between playing with good pace and playing too fast.”

Reddish, who joined De’Andre Hunter as rookie starters, said “I feel like I learned a lot tonight, especially at that position. I’ve got to slow down and let the game come to me.”

Pelicans beat Nuggets for first victory

Jahlil Okafor scored 26 points, Brandon Ingram added 25 and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Denver Nuggets 122-107 on Thursday night for their first victory in five games this season.

Ingram has scored at least 22 points in each of his first five games for New Orleans after coming over from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jrue Holiday added 19 points and seven assists after missing the previous two games because of a sprained left knee. Frank Jackson had 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting.

Michael Porter Jr. led the Nuggets with 15 points in his NBA debut. Jamal Murray and Jerami Grant each had 14 points, and Nikola Jokic added 13 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Denver has lost two straight after opening 3-0.

The Pelicans led the final three quarters.

New Orleans benefited from improved shot selection. The Pelicans attempted at least 41 three-pointers in each of their first four games, but they reduced that to 33 on Thursday and made a season-high 46 percent. New Orleans shot 53 percent overall from the field.

The Nuggets made just 7 of 26 3-pointers.

Source: Manila Bulletin