What happened: Max Strus misfired on a 25-foot three-point jumper with 4:29 remaining in the first quarter. The score sat at 16-14 at the time of the attempt. The miss came during an early back-and-forth stretch of play.

Why it matters: Early shooting from distance is a tone-setter for perimeter-heavy offenses, and a cold start from a designated floor-spacer like Strus tightens the margins in a low-scoring opening frame. With the score within two, every possession carries weight in shaping the rhythm of the quarter.

What to watch: Watch whether Strus gets quick follow-up looks from beyond the arc to find his rhythm. His three-point volume and efficiency over the remainder of the half will shape his team's spacing.