As expected, most fans were rooting for the Heat, especially Jaquez Jr., who received warm ovations every time he made a play, making him feel at home.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Jaquez said in his post-game interview. “Everyone blew my expectations away. I can’t imagine this much love being shown to myself and my family. It was truly incredible, and I was happy to be able to see all the fans… I could feel the love, and it was very much reciprocated.”

The Heat earned their third win of the season, improving to a 3-2 record. While Jaquez was the star attraction for Mexican fans, it was Bam Adebayo who led the team to victory, posting season-high numbers with 32 points and 14 rebounds in just 31 minutes.

How many NBA games were played outside of the U.S?

The game between the Heat and Wizards marked the 80th NBA game played outside the United States. In total, 79 preseason games and 36 regular-season games have taken place outside the U.S. and Canada, where the Toronto Raptors play their home games.

Japan and Mexico have hosted the most NBA games abroad, with 12 each, followed by the United Kingdom with 9 games and France with 3.

Jaquez Jr. on representing Mexico or the U.S.

Ahead of the NBA’s special game in Mexico, Jaquez was asked if he had made a decision about which country he would represent if given the chance. The Heat player was open in his response.

“No, I have not,” Jaquez said. “You guys know me and my background. I was obviously born in California. My dad is full Mexican. His mother was an immigrant, immigrated to America. So I grew up in California. I grew up doing the USA Basketball camps. Then, obviously, I played for Mexico during the Pan American Games.”

“After that, I stepped away from national teams, understanding how that pressure could build and how the fans would react to going from USA to Mexico,” he continued. “So I kind of took a step away from that, trying to look at all opportunities and really just figure out what’s best for me.”

On Tuesday, the Heat edged out the San Antonio Spurs 120-117 at the Kaseya Center, thanks in part to an impressive showing from Jaime Jaquez Jr. The young forward delivered 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in just 18 minutes of action, playing a pivotal role in the victory.

After the game, Spoelstra praised Jaquez Jr.’s performance, stating, “Part of Jaime’s talent is he can create something out of nothing… You feel that he can create something aggressive going into the paint and he’s been intentional and diligent about working on making plays as well, because teams are scheming him a little bit more if he catches it in that mid post.”

Expectations for Jaquez Jr.’s second season

In his rookie campaign, Jaime Jaquez Jr. flashed his potential, averaging 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists across 75 games. Now, there’s anticipation around his growth and the possibility of becoming a key player for the Heat.

“I think for everybody else, it’s just about does the scoring average go up?,” Spoelstra remarked. However, he emphasized a broader focus for Jaquez Jr.: “His impact defensively, I think will improve, feeling more comfortable in our defensive system, being able to take the challenge and do more things on that side of the floor.”

Regarding Jaquez Jr.’s offensive development, the head coach added, “I think just naturally getting a better idea of how he was defended the second half of the year, how teams started to scheme for him and show a little bit more attention to his touches, and particularly in the post. I think he’ll make improvements in that area as well.”

A potential relief for Butler

Jimmy Butler remains the linchpin of the Miami Heat. Yet, questions linger over his durability as the new season approaches. Having Jaquez Jr. step up and adapt to the team’s dynamics could ease the pressure on Butler and the coaching staff.

Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s versatility—able to play both shooting guard and small forward—offers Erik Spoelstra a valuable option, providing the chance to rest Butler when needed and distribute the workload more effectively throughout the season.

Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. missed the preseason opener against the Hornets due to physical issues and were slated to sit out against the Hawks as well. However, both are now expected to return for Sunday’s matchup vs. the Pelicans at the Kaseya Center.

Herro and Jaquez Jr. were able to take part in Friday’s practice and Spoelstra expressed optimism about their availability. “The extra days helped,” the coach noted, adding, ”They’ve been working quite a bit behind the scenes. So I wasn’t surprised they were able to do some work today.”

Injury updates on Herro and Jaquez Jr.

Tyler Herro has been dealing with a right groin issue, though he downplayed its severity during media day. “Ran a lot and I was sore, so I needed a couple of days. I’m back,” Herro said. When asked if he would be available for Sunday’s game, he confidently responded, “Yeah, I should be. We’ll see what happens.”

Jaime Jaquez Jr. has been recovering from a left groin strain. “I had felt some tightness in my groin, and I let the training staff know…they decided to just hold me out for a little bit just to not make it any worse than it already was,” Jaquez explained. “Just trusting in everything they need to get me back on the court and I’m feeling great right now.”

The Heat’s depth heading into the season

Erik Spoelstra clearly values Herro and Jaquez Jr., seeing them as crucial components of the team’s success despite their relative youth. Their return will strengthen the Heat’s roster, providing much-needed support to established stars like Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Terry Rozier. With Herro and Jaquez Jr. back in the mix, the Heat will be able to field a more competitive and balanced team as they look to build momentum in the early part of the NBA season.

From a basketball perspective, he was an experienced forward with polished footwork and a versatile face-up game. He was also an elite rebounder for his position and someone who could get his teammates involved with his playmaking.

On top of that, he was perhaps the most Californian prospect in his class. Born in Irvine, raised in Camarillo, and having a four-year tenure with the UCLA Bruins, it was just a match made in heaven.

The Lakers wound up taking Jalen Hood-Schifino before the Miami Heat snatched him just one pick later. However, as crazy as it may seem, he actually didn’t want to play for the Purple & Gold.

Jaquez Jr. Wanted To Leave Southern California

“I wanted to get away,” Jaquez Jr. told The South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “I think, for myself, I thought it was important for me to be able to go out of my comfort zone and experience something new.”

Of course, this had nothing to do with hating the Lakers or whatnot. He just wanted to spread his wings and take his talents somewhere else, leaving SoCal for the first time in his career:

“I didn’t want to be a guy that said, ‘Oh, I just stayed in Southern California all my life,‘” he added. “I wanted to go live in a different, new place. And that’s why I was very excited to go to Miami. It was new. Everyone compares it, but I think it’s very, very different.”

Unfortunately for the Lakers, Jaquez Jr. has balled out from the very first day, averaging 13.7 points, 3.9 boards, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game on 50.4 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from beyond the arc.