What happened

Kamiah Smalls missed a 24-foot three-point jumper with 8:20 remaining in the first quarter, per ESPN. At the time of the attempt, the score stood at 2-3. The miss came amid a slow offensive start from both sides.

Why it matters

Early shooting misses from deep set the tone for spacing and pace in a low-scoring first quarter. Cold starts from perimeter shooters often force coaches to lean on interior looks or adjust rotations sooner than planned. For a guard like Smalls, an early miss does not necessarily reflect on the rest of the night, but it underscores how thin the margin is in a game where neither team has cleared four points midway through the opening frame.

What to watch

Watch whether Smalls gets a quick second look from beyond the arc to find rhythm, and how the offense adjusts if the cold shooting persists into the back half of the first quarter.

Sources

  • @ESPN