How Giannis Antetokounmpo performed in Heat preseason debut
· Yahoo Sports
Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
How Giannis Antetokounmpo performed in Heat preseason debut appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Visit tr-sport.bond for more information.
Preseason Game 1 between the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors saw Kawhi Leonard sit out while Giannis Antetokounmpo played for coach Erik Spoelstra’s team. Klay Thompson shouted out a rookie before the game, but the Heat veterans took control in a 129-105 road victory.
Antetokounmpo shot a perfect 3-for-3 from the field, finishing with a modest but efficient stat line against the Raptors. He played 14 minutes, scored nine points, had seven assists, grabbed four rebounds and shot 3-for-4 from the charity stripe.
Meanwhile, Andrew Wiggins led the Heat in scoring with 12 points while fellow veteran Bam Adebayo scored 10 points, shortly after sharing his thoughts on building chemistry with Antetokounmpo. Coach Spoelstra’s team gave 19 players an opportunity to play as the Heat coach sorted through potential lineup combinations.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)
Seven players scored in double figures including Wiggins, Adebayo, Nikola Jovic, Ian Schiefflin, Tim Hardaway Jr., Pelle Larsson, and Bez Mbeng. While Antetokounmpo wasn’t among them, his performance constituted the exact type of game Heat fans want him to play on a team packed full of depth in need of a versatile forward who can stuff the stat sheet without necessarily scoring 30 points per night.
GIANNIS SCORING AND ASSISTING AT WILL 💪
The Heat offense is looking scary with Antetokounmpo. pic.twitter.com/nmsDAMaXZ5
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 4, 2026
The Heat superstar is happy he doesn’t have to face Adebayo anymore, and appears more relaxed after leaving Milwaukee for South Beach. The days of the Antetokounmpo scoring 30 points per night may be in the rearview mirror, but he could become a more effective player this season, and do a better job of saving himself for the playoffs in the process.
Spoelstra knows as well as any coach how to manage his stars in preparation for a deep playoff run. If preseason Game 1 was any indication, the Heat are just getting started, which should be scary news for the rest of the Eastern Conference.
Related: Nikola Jokic brings Nuggets teammates to see Deion Sanders’ Colorado vs Texas Tech
Related: Giannis playing, Kawhi Leonard out for Heat-Raptors preseason clash