Erik Spoelstra credits Heat's rookie in loss vs. Celtics - Hot Hot Hoops

Miami Heat rookie Kasparas Jakucionis had 12 points, eight assists and five rebounds off the bench against Boston. (Mandatory Credit: Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

Unlike last year, the Miami Heat have done a decent job closing teams out when they’re ahead.

They have only blown five double-digit leads (T-8 fewest) and four fourth-quarter leads (T-2 fewest) this season. That wasn’t the case against the Boston Celtics. They blew a 15-point second-half lead, getting outscored 43-21 over the game’s final 13:05 en route to a 119-114 Celtics win.

It was far from perfect for the Heat, who dropped to 21-20 at the midway point of the season. However, head coach Erik Spoelstra continued to applaud rookie Kasparas Jakucionis, who was one of the Heat’s best players.

“That’s been one of the bright spots for sure,” Spoelstra said about Jakucionis’ emergence after the game. “He’s been ready basically every time he’s been given an opportunity. He keeps on getting better. He gives us something different, particularly without [Davion Mitchell] out there. He can make some plays and he’s fearless.”

Jakucionis finished with a bench-high 12 points on 3-of-4 shooting from 3-point range, including a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. He also had eight assists (to three turnovers) with five rebounds across 27 minutes.

“I love that he was taking those shots in the fourth quarter,” Spoelstra said. “He had a big three. … Positionally, I thought he was in front of [Anfernee Simons]. Simons was just stepping back — he looked like [Damian Lillard] out there for some stretches. But I was encouraged by Kas.”

For the season, Jakucionis’ stats aren’t gaudy. He’s averaging 4.3 points and 1.9 rebounds on 48.4 percent shooting from 3-point range and 55.0 percent true shooting. He currently has a negative assist-to-turnover ratio, but he’s still trying to make the right plays with the ball in his hands, according to Heat star Bam Adebayo.

“He’s trying to do the right thing every play,” Adebayo said. “He’s trying to play fast; he’s trying to overcommunicate. And when you see a young guy like that, he has a bright future for him cause he’s committing to what we’re telling him, what we’re asking of him. He’s going to get his turn at some point.”

There is still plenty of room for improvement in the rookie’s ballhandling, off-ball defense and finishing. Where he’s impressed me most about him is his on-ball defense; I admittedly had questions about his foot speed in the pre-draft process, but he’s quieted those in his limited sample.

Nevertheless, Jakucionis is ironing out the kinks. It’s all a part of the developmental process for the 19-year-old, who has appeared in 14 of the team’s last 15 games.

“I have to stay ready always,” he said. “And whenever I get the chance, I just try to embrace it. Outside of that, I just try to be ready, work out and watch film and be mentally ready. … It’s basketball, so you just try to play the right way.

“I think we have crazy talented guys that I never played with in my life that type of player. I’m just happy to be there and try to help them get in their spots and make plays for them.”

Erik Spoelstra credits Heat’s rookie in loss vs. Celtics – Hot Hot Hoops

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