Hoosiers Now

Kel'el Ware, Miami Heat Continue to Impress in NBA Summer League, Whip Thunder on Monday

Former Indiana center Kel'el Ware was challenged to be better on the boards Monday, and he grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds in the Miami Heat's 102-73 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Tom Brew

Miami's Kel'el Ware (center) had a game-high 12 rebounds in the Heat's win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
Miami's Kel'el Ware (center) had a game-high 12 rebounds in the Heat's win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. / Becky Rigel - Indiana Hoosiers on Sports Illustrated
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LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Former Indiana center Kel'el Ware has played well so far during Summer League with the Miami Heat, but there's always room for improvement. That's why they're here.

Ware averaged 18.3 points in his first three Summer League games, but he had only three rebounds on Saturday in their first Las Vegas outing. So he was challenged to be better on the boards Monday when the Heat took on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Challenge accepted.

Ware had 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, leading the Heat to their second straight win. They beat the Thunder 102-73.

"The most important thing was he took on the challenge,'' Heat Summer League coach Dan Bisaccio said. "He had three rebounds last game and we challenged him. He wanted to get those 10-plus rebounds and he ended up getting 12. That's something we want to see. To his credit, they responded in a big way in the second quarter and the second half.''

"We're going to be on him daily, and he knows it. He wants it.''

The Heat were led by 2023 first-round pick Jamie Jaquez Jr., who had 23 points. Josh Christopher had 23 points, including six three-pointers. Miami made 16 threes as a team.

Former Hoosier Miller Kopp is on the Oklahoma City roster. He did not play at all on Monday. In the Thunder's first game on Saturday, he played 17 minutes but when 0-for-5 from the field and did not score. He played for their G League team last winter.

Indiana coach Mike Woodson was at the game. He sat in the front row and watched his two former players.

Indiana coach Mike Woodson and his wife were in Las Vegas Monday to watch former players Kel'el Ware and Miller Kopp.
Indiana coach Mike Woodson and his wife were in Las Vegas Monday to watch former players Kel'el Ware and Miller Kopp in the NBA Summer League when the Miami Heat took on the Oklahoma City Thunder. / Becky Rigel - Indiana Hoosiers on Sports Illustrated

Related NBA Summer League stories

  • JACKSON-DAVIS' BIG SUMMER: Former Hoosier Trayce Jackson-Davis was a pleasant surprise during his first season in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors. He's back for more in Year 2, playing well in the Summer League in Las Vegas. CLICK HERE
  • KEL'EL WARE SHINES FOR HEAT: Former Indiana center Kel'el Ware has been great so far during his week of action with the Miami Heat in the NBA Summer League. CLICK HERE
  • MILLER KOPP ON THUNDER ROSTER: Former Indiana Hoosier Miller Kopp continues his pro career Monday night, playing in the NBA Summer League with the Oklahoma City Thunder. CLICK HERE

NBA Summer League schedule

  • COMPLETE SCHEDULE, RESULTS: Here's the full schedule for the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas from July 12-22, along with results in real time from all the games played so far. CLICK HERE
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Tom Brew
TOM BREW

Tom Brew is an award-winning journalist who has worked at some of America's finest newspapers as a reporter and editor, including the Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times, the Indianapolis Star and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has covered college sports in the digital platform for the past six years, including the last five years as publisher of HoosiersNow on the FanNation/Sports Illustrated network.