When it was announced that Heat guard Goran Dragic would be out at least a week with a calf injury, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra turned to Beno Udrih, who was acquired in November to start in Dragic’s place.
Udrih had the best game of his Heat career in the Heat’s 98-95 win over the Nuggets on Friday, posting a double-double with 11 points and 11 dimes while turning the ball over zero times. It was the 27th time in Heat history that a player posted double digit assists with zero turnovers.
Udrih is averaging 11 points, 6.6 assists, and .6 turnovers per game when inserted into the Heat’s lineup, and that’s something that Erik Spoelstra praised Udrih on:
“It’s so vital,” Spoelstra said. “The no turnovers, the choreographing our entire offensive attack. He’s absolutely in tuned with the bench, with the game plan and where we want the ball to go.”
Tyler Johnson, who has also seen his playing time go up since Dragic’s injury, is averaging 11.5 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds per game in Dragic’s absence.
It’s safe to say Udrih and Johnson are filling in nicely for Dragic. They face a challenge versus Russell Westbrook and the Thunder with keeping up the good play later today.
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