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The Biscayne Brief · Morning

Heat Open Preseason Without Johnson Or Smith

Miami's preseason begins at Toronto with Keshad Johnson sidelined and Dru Smith day-to-day.

70.8%Final 10 games true shooting
By the Heat Nightly Desk · Saturday, October 3

The Heat open the 2026-27 preseason tonight at Toronto without Keshad Johnson, out with a hamstring injury and targeting a return around October 26. Dru Smith remains day-to-day with a right calf strain, thinning Miami's backcourt depth just as Klay Thompson and Bez Mbeng get their first look in a Heat uniform.

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Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Tonight's Opener

Miami plays its first game of the 2026-27 preseason tonight at Toronto on NBA TV, the first look at a roster reshaped by Giannis Antetokounmpo's arrival, Klay Thompson's signing and Bez Mbeng's waiver claim. Erik Spoelstra gets game minutes to sort his rotation before three more preseason dates and the October 21 opener against Minnesota.

Who's Out

Keshad Johnson will not play. He is out with a hamstring injury, and the Heat have him targeting a return around October 26, meaning he could miss the rest of preseason. Dru Smith is day-to-day with a right calf strain and a mid-October target. Myron Gardner is also day-to-day, dealing with a left ankle issue, and his own return window lands today.

Toronto Shorthanded Too

The Raptors are not whole either: Jamison Battle, Kyle Anderson, Allen Graves, Nate Bittle, Alijah Martin and Chucky Hepburn are all day-to-day, giving both benches a thinned look tonight. Toronto went 46-36 last season under Darko Rajakovic, built around Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard.

Bench Value

Simone Fontecchio's efficiency stood out late last season: a 70.8 true shooting mark across his last 10 games, albeit in a small sample. It is the kind of stretch Spoelstra will want preseason minutes to confirm.

Bottom Line

Nothing new moved in Miami's health picture beyond Johnson's hamstring already being logged. The real test starts tonight, with three more preseason games before the October 21 opener against Minnesota decides how all these new names fit.

Is Keshad Johnson playing tonight against the Raptors?

No. Johnson is out with a hamstring injury, and the Heat have him targeting a return around October 26.

When do the Heat open the regular season?

Miami's regular season opener is October 21 at home against Minnesota on ESPN.

By the Heat Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.

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