Giannis sets aggressive tone in debut as Heat take exhibition vs. Raptors
· Yahoo Sports
What mattered most in Saturday night’s exhibition opener against the Toronto Raptors in Quebec City arguably came during the opening jump — with Giannis Antetokounmpo for the first time in a Heat uniform in game action.
As for the rest of the night at Videotron Centre, more of a tease than anything substantive, as Erik Spoelstra’s team opened its five-game preseason schedule.
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What was undeniable, however, is the pace race will remain real, with the Heat scoring 76 points in the first half, a drive-and-kick attack leading to numerous open 3-point attempts and 19 assists over the opening two periods..
That early action came with the Heat’s primary rotation players in action, before giving way to camp hopefuls in the second half of what turned into a 129-105 victory.
Antetokounmpo wound up going 14:07, closing with nine points on 3-of-3 shooting, with seven assists and four rebounds.
Opening alongside in the power rotation, center Bam Adebayo played through foul trouble to close with 10 points and six rebounds in 12:47, albeit 2 of 7 from the field, including 1 of 4 on 3-pointers.
From the starters there also were 12 points, including 4 of 6 on 3-pointers, from Andrew Wiggins and four assists from Davion Mitchell.
Next up for the Heat is Tuesday’s 6:30 p.m. Red, White & Pink Game intrasquad scrummage at Kaseya Center that benefits the Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute.
From there, the Heat play their preseason home opener at 7:30 p.m. Thursday against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Five Degrees of Heat from Saturday’s exhibition against the Raptors:
1. For starters: As somewhat expected, the Heat opened with a lineup of Antetokounmpo, Adebayo, Wiggins, Mitchell and Klay Thompson, who went scoreless on 0-for-2 shooting.
Such going into training camp was also the projected opening-night starting lineup, with the Heat opening their season Oct. 21 against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Kaseya Center.
Spoelstra then went with a five-man substitution midway through the opening period, with Simone Fontecchio, Tim Hardaway Jr., Nikola Jovic, Pelle Larsson and Bobby Portis Portis Jr. entering.
That had Larsson as the de facto point guard of the second unit.
The only players not available Saturday were the two injured during camp, Dru Smith and Keshad Johnson. All other 19 available Heat players saw action.
With Kawhi Leonard still working his way back from his offseason uncertainty, the Raptors opened with a lineup of Jakob Poeltl, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes and Ja’Kobe Walter.
2. Giannis debuts: Antetokounmpo’s first Heat (preseason) points came on a driving layup that was part of a 3-point play.
With Antetokounmpo drawing the expected attention, he had three assists in the opening 4:44.
Antetokounmpo also thrived in the Heat’s uptempo approach, often advancing the ball at speed and kicking out for open jumpers, including Wiggins’ 3-pointers.
Antetokounmpo was the lone starter not to attempt a 3-pointer.
3. And Bam: With his time to be limited, Adebayo was allowed to play through three early fouls, with six points and five rebounds in his opening 6:50.
Going in, Spoelstra said the goal was clear when it comes to Antetokounmpo and Adebayo, “I want them to feel comfortable. I want them to feel like they’re playing to their strengths.
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“Hopefully, we can make both of those guys feel comfortable quickly to a point where they’re our leaders. They’re our co-pilots. The better they are at imposing their will at what they do, the more it influences the rest of their locker room.”
4. In reserve: Hardaway thrived in his 11:13 off the bench, with 14 points on 4-of-4 shooting that included 3 of 3 on 3-pointers.
Also dynamic in that second unit was Larsson, whose aggressive, attacking style left him with 13 points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field and 7-of-7 shooting from the line.
The only player to see action in each half for the Heat was Jovic, who had six rebounds and three assists in 9:53 in the first half while playing with the rotation players.
5. Long day: Due to travel delays out of Miami, the Heat did not arrive in Quebec City until 12:57 a.m. Saturday, 6 hours, 4 minutes behind schedule.
That came after the team concluded its final session of training camp at midday Friday at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.
The Heat’s lone remaining trip of the preseason is Oct. 16 for a matchup against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center.
The Heat’s first road game of the regular season is Oct. 24 against the Charlotte Hornets.