Miami Heat Photo
Tyler Herro became just the fourth rookie since 1971 to score 37 or more points in a NBA playoff game when he put in 37 points in Wednesday’s 112-109 win by the Miami Heat over Boston. The former Kentucky player joined an elite group that includes Magic Johnson, Chuck Person and Donovan Mitchell.
And Herro is the first player 20 or younger to score 37 points in a conference finals game. th
The teams play again tonight and a Miami win would put Herro, former UK star Bam Adebayo and the Heat into the NBA Finals.
Here’s part of what Herro had to say after Wednesday’s win.
Q. Coach just talked about how important it was for your teammates to have confidence in you as opposed to the coaching staff. How much does their support play into how you’re able to play as loose as you are?
TYLER HERRO: I mean, it’s everything, really, everything. Obviously the coaches have trust in me but I think like Coach said, the biggest thing is my teammates from top to bottom trust me. From the oldest guy to the youngest guy and that’s big. The vets are like that — they really shine light on me ever since I’ve been in Miami. Jimmy has been the biggest influence for me and he just continues to teach me and help me. Without my teammates, I don’t think that would be possible, especially as a rookie.
Q. On a night like tonight where you’re scoring so well, trying to get your teammates going and make the right pass, how do you balance between making the right play and making your shot?
TYLER HERRO: At the end of the day, it’s about making the right play, whether it’s a shot or a pass to a teammate, whatever it is. Every night is a different night. Tonight was my night to score. Next game, I’m sure it will be different. I mean, just going out there and making the right play and trying to impact winning is the biggest thing for each of us.
Q. You talked about it but how important has the relationship been with Jimmy Butler? I know you’re confident already, but even giving you more confidence and giving you room to have these type of performances in your first season?
TYLER HERRO: Like I said before, it’s everything. Jimmy, ever since I got here, he’s been like a big brother to me and he’s shined light on me. He’s taught me a lot of things. He’s just continuing to get on me, whether it’s something I want to hear or not, he’s going to tell me what I need to hear. I appreciate him for that. Like I said, without Jimmy, I probably wouldn’t be doing this as a rookie.
Q. You mentioned that confidence, but when you look up or at the stat sheet, you see 37 points, does it feel that way when you’re playing that style? Do you sense how much you’re scoring and what a groove or zone or whatever you want to call it you’re in in such a big moment?
TYLER HERRO: Not really. I mean, I feel the groove I’m in. I feel like I have it going. But like I said before, any night it can be somewhat different, and when you think you have it going, you want to just try to be as efficient as possible and make the right play, and you know, tonight some shots were falling for me and my teammates just continued to give me the ball and I appreciate them for that.
Q. When you’re in the zone the way that you are, are you able to stay in the zone or do you think about and are you motivated by the fact that you’re helping your team who is now one game away, one win away, from the NBA Finals?
TYLER HERRO: Yeah, I think the biggest thing for me just trying to impact winning. At the end of the day, that’s our biggest goal. You know, we have a great group of guys in the locker room and I think at the end of the day, everybody wants to win. And you know, I know my role. It’s not to score 30, whatever I had tonight. It’s not to do that every night. Some nights it may require me to step up like tonight and make some shots. But I know in the fourth quarter, we’re going to get the ball to Jimmy; we’re going to get the ball to Goran. Those are our guys. We are going to run to them and they are going to make the most plays for us and they are going to win us games most of the time. That’s who we are going to get the ball to, and like I said, I just want to impact winning; whatever that means, I’ll do.
