Max Strus as starter was the surprise at the beginning of the week for the struggling Miami Heat. Max Strus as closer was perhaps even more eye opening in Wednesday night’s impressive 106-98 road victory over the Boston Celtics.

“He got a lot of clutch,” center Bam Adebayo said, with the third-year forward blocking two shots and drawing a critical late charge on Jayson Tatum.

Strus entered in place of former starting guard Duncan Robinson with 7:40 to play and went the rest of the way, utilized instead of P.J. Tucker in a lineup that provided needed spacing for Adebayo, Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry.

While he closed with 14 points, including 4 of 9 on 3-pointers, and seven rebounds it was his three steals and two blocked shots that drew particular notice.

“I know that he’s capable of it, though,” Butler said. “That’s what makes me mad, because now that you’ve shown people you can do that, you’ve got to come out, you’ve got to do it every game now. You can’t have like mishaps. And I love that, the fact that you’ve showed you can guard, you can step in, take a charge, all of that.”

Strus said he basically is earning as he goes in his new, expanded role.

“Just to be solid, so I could stay on the court, honestly,” he said. “Just be solid defensively, be there for my teammates, ‘cause they’ve always got my back. So just stay solid and keep earning minutes as we go.”

Coach Erik Spoelstra said Strus’ growth beyond shooter hardly is a surprise.

“He’s really been improving as a team defender, so he’s in the right spot more often than not,” he said. “And then he gives you a little bit of size on the glass. He’s a big body in there, so when they were crashing the glass, either he was able to come up with it or throw his body in there and that created a rebound opportunity for Tyler [Herro] or somebody else.

“But he’s been steadily improving on that side of the floor for two years, really.”

Playoff tickets

With Wednesday night’s victory clinching a playoff berth, the Heat announced individual game tickets for their first-round playoff series against a yet-to-be-determined opponent will go on sale April 6 at 10 a.m., with the team going with a “White Hot” theme for the first time since the 2018 playoffs.

The Heat will open the playoffs at FTX Arena on either April 16 or April 17.

Once tickets go on sale, there will be a four-ticket limit per household, per game.

Sales will be for the Heat’s four home playoffs games in the best-of-seven series.

All Heat home playoff games will be mobile-only entry.

A presale will be available to those who sign up at heat.com/playoffinfo.

Adebayo a finalist

Adebayo has been named the Southeast Division finalist for the NBA’s 2021-22 Sportsmanship Award.

According to the league, the award, “honors the player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court.”

After each team nominated a finalist, a panel of NBA executives selected one finalist from each of the six divisions, with Adebayo’s selection coming from the nominees from the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards and Heat.

The other finalists are Brooklyn Nets guard Patty Mills from the Atlantic Division, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland from the Central Division, Denver Nuggets forward Jeff Green from the Northwest Division, Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges from the Pacific Division and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaron Jackson Jr. from the Southwest Division.

NBA players will select the winner.

The Heat have not had a winner of the award, with their previous finalist being LaPhonso Ellis (2002), Shaquille O’Neal (2006), Shane Battier (2012) and Adebayo last year.

Haslem, too

Also, Heat captain Udonis Haslem is one of 12 finalists selected by NBA executives for Twyman Stokes Teammate of the Year.

According to the NBA, “The annual honor recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment and dedication to team.”

Among the other finalists is former Heat forward Andre Iguodala.

The winner will be selected by NBA players.

The Heat’s lone winner of the award was Battier in 2014.

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