Miami lost its preseason finale 115-136 at Orlando on Friday, erasing a 12-point lead before a second-quarter Orlando run buried it. The regular season opens Wednesday against Minnesota, with Bam Adebayo, Dru Smith and Pelle Larsson all carrying questionable tags for that date.
Same City Same Fate
Today's archive flips back to October 17, 2018, when the Heat lost at Orlando, 101-104. Friday's preseason finale ran the same script: Miami opened a 12-point cushion, watched Orlando erase it with a 10-0 run through the second quarter, and walked out losing 115-136. Eight years apart, same building, same outcome.
Opener Clock
Wednesday's opener against Minnesota is five days away, and three names are still unresolved. Bam Adebayo is working back from a right groin strain, Dru Smith is managing a right calf injury, and Pelle Larsson is dealing with an illness. All three carry an estimated return date of October 21. Spoelstra's teams have never gotten credit for a clean preseason record, and nobody will get credit for missing the opener either.
Roster Still Moving
Hoopsrumors reported Saturday that Miami waived four players, the same day the team formally added Ezra Ausar and cleared him to play. Giannis Antetokounmpo also came off the injury report Saturday. The roster is still shaking loose four days before it has to be final.
Books Are Set
Miami's payroll moved to $209.1M on Saturday, past the $200.4M luxury-tax line and the apron threshold that limits in-season moves. Giannis Antetokounmpo ($58.5M), Bam Adebayo ($49.8M) and Andrew Wiggins ($30.2M) anchor that number. Whatever shows up Wednesday against Minnesota is close to the whole hand Miami has to play.
Bottom Line
Eight years and one day removed from the last Oct. 17 Orlando scar, Miami still answers to the same standard: no excuses for blown leads, home or road. Friday's fold at Orlando was preseason, but the names walking out hurt -- Adebayo, Dru Smith and Larsson unresolved, four roster spots emptied by Saturday's moves. Wednesday against Minnesota is the only game that will count against any of it.
When does the Heat's season actually start?
The Heat open the regular season Wednesday, October 21, against Minnesota. Everything played before that, including Friday's 115-136 loss at Orlando, was preseason.
Is Bam Adebayo expected to play on opening night?
Adebayo is working back from a right groin strain with an estimated return of October 21, the same day as the opener against Minnesota.
More from The Biscayne Brief
all Heat news →
By the numbers · Sat, Oct 17Numbers Expose Heat's Cracks Before Lights Go On
Morning · Sat, Oct 17Heat Fold In Finale, Face Five Injury Tests Before Opener
From the archives · Tue, Oct 13History Explains Everything About Miami Except Giannis
From the archives · Sat, Oct 10Heat And Wolves Share A Birth Year, Not A Blueprint
From the archives · Tue, Oct 6Heat Still Measure Themselves Against Their Last Finals Loss
From the archives · Sat, Oct 3Giannis Inherits A Pattern Pat Riley Built