Reserves Overwhelm Raptors In Miami's Preseason Opener

By the Heat Nightly Desk · Sunday, October 4

The Heat opened preseason with a 129-105 win at Toronto on October 3, building a 24-point lead with 89 points off the bench. Keshad Johnson and Dru Smith both sat out, while reserves Tim Hardaway Jr., Pelle Larsson and Bez Mbeng carried the scoring load.

Heat Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Bench Carries The Opener

Miami built this one with reserves. Three separate runs of 8-0 or better in the first half pushed the lead to 24 points over Toronto. Hardaway Jr. scored 14 on 4-for-4 shooting, Larsson had 13, Wiggins added 12, and Schieffelin, Jovic and Mbeng each chipped in 11. Bam Adebayo managed just 10 points in 13 minutes as the bench outscored the starters 89 to 34.

Debut Reported, Not Logged

Heat.com, the Miami Herald and Hot Hot Hoops all wrote that Antetokounmpo made his preseason debut in the win. He did not appear among the game's point leaders on either side, so the minutes and numbers from that debut are not yet confirmed here.

Johnson And Smith Sit

Keshad Johnson missed the opener with a hamstring injury, with a projected return around October 26. Dru Smith sat out a right calf strain, expected back by October 16. Their absence opened minutes for Mbeng, Quinones, Gardner, Conwell and Goldin, the group that closed the fourth quarter.

Five Days To New Orleans

Miami's next preseason game is October 8 at home against the Pelicans, with the Timberwolves, Nets and Magic still to come before the regular-season opener against Minnesota on October 21.

Bottom Line

One blowout over Toronto's reserves settles nothing about the back of this roster. Mbeng, Quinones, Gardner, Conwell and Goldin were still the five on the floor in the final minutes, and Spoelstra has three more preseason games to decide which of them sticks.

Did Giannis Antetokounmpo play in the Heat's preseason opener?

Several outlets, including the Miami Herald and Heat.com, reported he made his debut in the win over Toronto, but he did not show up among the game's logged statistical leaders.

When do the Heat play next after beating the Raptors?

Miami's next preseason game is October 8 at home against the Pelicans, five days after the Toronto win.