The Miami Heat opened their summer league campaign with a narrow 88-87 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.
Second-round pick Ryan Conwell led the Heat with 21 points, while Jahmir Young added 21 and Trevor Keels contributed 18.
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The Spurs had a chance to win on their final possession, but R. J.
Davis missed a last-second three-pointer from the top of the key.
Conwell Shines in Debut
Conwell, selected No. 37 overall out of Louisville, overcame a slow start to finish 4-of-12 from the field and 3-of-7 from beyond the arc.
"He's got a natural shooting ability and that's something you can't teach," said Heat summer league coach Wayne Ellington.
Ellington also praised Conwell's ball-handling and poise, noting that the rookie kept shooting despite a difficult first half.
"It's just another notch," Conwell said, adding that he is adapting to the speed of the game and learning to make quicker reads.
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Vlad Goldin recorded 14 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks for Miami, emphasizing his focus on defensive improvement to match the team's culture.
"Miami, obviously they want to play tough. They want to be a team that can get a stop," Goldin said.
Young, who played on a two-way contract last season, said he aims to lead younger players by competing with poise, pace, and intensity.
Ellington, a former Heat player, admitted his stress level was high during the close finish but enjoyed his head coaching debut.
San Antonio was led by Miles Kelly with 16 points, while Davis added 15. Rookies Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Maliq Brown, and Terris Reed Jr. each scored 10.
The tournament featured a trial rule where players took a single free throw for shooting fouls, worth one, two, or three points, until the final two minutes of regulation.
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Miami will next face the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, while the Spurs are scheduled to play the Golden State Warriors.
