Heat Carry Rest Edge Into Pelicans Preseason Test

By the Heat Nightly Desk · Wednesday, October 7

Miami hosts New Orleans Thursday in its second preseason test, well rested while the Pelicans arrive on one day off in the second game of their road swing. Last season's 26-56 record did not stop New Orleans from running Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III and Bennedict Mathurin starter's minutes, and all three walk into Kaseya Center this week.

Heat Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Rest Advantage

Miami enters Thursday's game against New Orleans on four days' rest with no back-to-back on the schedule, while the Pelicans arrive on a single day off in the second game of their trip. The only action either side has logged this preseason came Saturday, October 3, a 129-105 Heat win at Toronto in which Hardaway and Larsson combined for 27 points. None of it counts until October 21, but Spoelstra gets another live look at his rotations before the record starts being real.

Scouting New Orleans

New Orleans finished last season 26-56 with a minus-4.4 net rating, dragged down by a defense that allowed 117.6 points per 100 possessions. The names responsible are mostly back: Trey Murphy III averaged 21.5 points, Zion Williamson 21.0, and Bennedict Mathurin 17.6 after arriving by trade. Saddiq Bey played all 72 games. That record is the honest floor for a team Miami should beat.

Injury Report

Keshad Johnson is out with a hamstring injury and targets a return around October 26, which would put him past the October 21 opener against Minnesota. Dru Smith remains day-to-day because of his right calf, aiming for an October 16 return that would have him ready in time.

Apron Math

None of Thursday's result changes the larger number on the books: $210.5 million in committed salary, above the $209.0 million first apron and the $200.4 million luxury-tax line. Giannis Antetokounmpo's $58.5 million and Bam Adebayo's $49.8 million alone account for more than half of it, which is why the back of this roster is being filled with camp bodies instead of money.

Bottom Line

Thursday is still an exhibition, and the record stays 0-0 regardless of the final score. Johnson's hamstring timeline is the one injury that bleeds into opening night, and that's the date worth tracking until he clears it.

Will Keshad Johnson play in the Heat's season opener?

Likely not. His hamstring injury carries an estimated return around October 26, five days after Miami's October 21 opener against Minnesota.

What is the Heat's record this season?

Miami is 0-0. The regular season has not started, and the October 3 preseason win at Toronto does not count toward it.