Heat Use A Rested Week To Set Up The One That Counts

By the Heat Nightly Desk · Wednesday, October 14

Miami enters a three-game week with every rest-day advantage on its side, while Brooklyn works through the back half of a road trip on one day off. None of that matters until Wednesday, when the Timberwolves arrive for an opener that finally counts.

Three Games, One Count

Miami hosts Brooklyn tonight, then flies to Orlando on Friday for a preseason finale against the Magic. Both are exhibitions with no bearing on the record. Brooklyn finished 20-62 last season under Jordi Fernandez, who returns to a rebuild anchored by Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. The week closes Wednesday, October 21, when Minnesota visits for the regular-season opener on ESPN — the first game that actually counts.

Rest Favors Miami

The Heat arrive with three full days since their last outing and zero road miles on this stretch; the next trip, to Orlando, is two days out. Brooklyn is on the tail end of a two-game road trip with a single day between games, and its next game after tonight sits a full week away. Jordi Fernandez's group is squeezing in reps before its own schedule opens up.

Who's Out Tonight

Six regulars were tagged day-to-day for rest or illness entering the night, each with a target return of today: Larsson, Adebayo, Thompson, Giannis, Wiggins and Mitchell. Kylor Kelley (calf) shares that same target. Dru Smith (calf) isn't expected back until Friday, and Keshad Johnson remains the longest absence, out with a leg injury until October 26.

Minnesota Is The Test

Everything before Wednesday is rehearsal. The Timberwolves arrive October 21 on ESPN, and whatever rotation Erik Spoelstra settles on by then is the one that matters when the record finally moves off 0-0. Brooklyn and Orlando are tune-ups; Minnesota is the standard.

Bottom Line

Miami has the healthier schedule this week and no road debt to pay down. The job is to get bodies through two more exhibitions and have the real rotation ready when a game finally counts against the record.

Does tonight's Heat-Nets game count toward the record?

No. It is listed as preseason, so neither team's record changes regardless of the result.

When does the Heat's regular season actually start?

October 21 at home against Minnesota, broadcast on ESPN.