By Joel Bartilotta
RotoWire
Tyler Ulis scored a team-high 20 points as the Phoenix Suns held off the Miami Heat, 77-74, in the second round of the Las Vegas Summer League tournament Thursday at Cox Pavilion.
A Ulis pull-up jumper gave the Suns a 68-66 lead with 5:03 remaining that they would never relinquish. The 12th-seeded Heat kept it close, however, and still had a chance to tie after Phoenix’s Troy Williams missed the back end of two free throws with one second left. But Damion Lee’s 3-pointer was off the mark with 0.2 seconds to play as the No. 5 Suns escaped.
The Suns (3-1) committed 20 turnovers but won the rebounding battle, 44-28, and shot 45.2 percent from the field.
A former Kentucky standout, Ulis shot 9-for-14 from the field with eight assists. Williams totaled 15 points and eight rebounds, and Kyle Kuric added 15 points.
Victor Rudd scored 24 points on 8-for-13 shooting for the Heat (3-2). Lee added 16 and Briante Weber finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
The Suns advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals where they will play the Denver Nuggets-Utah Jazz winner. The Heat play the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday in a consolation game.
