Miami Heat 129, Toronto Raptors 105 | October 3, 2026
The hardwood is back, and Miami gave us an early look at a roster worth watching. The Heat defeated the Toronto Raptors 129–105 in preseason action, spreading the scoring across a deep rotation while their established names played limited minutes.
One preseason win will not settle the Eastern Conference. But lineup wise, Miami looks like a legitimate contender.
I still believe the Philadelphia 76ers have the best starting five. That does not mean the Heat should take a back seat in the conversation. Miami has a squad to be reckoned with.
A Starting Five With Real Weapons
Miami’s starting lineup featured Giannis Antetokounmpo, Andrew Wiggins, Bam Adebayo, Klay Thompson and Davion Mitchell. That combination gives the Heat size, scoring, defensive versatility and an outside shooting threat.
Giannis finished with nine points and four rebounds in 14 minutes, making all three of his field-goal attempts. Wiggins scored 12 points in 13 minutes, connecting on four of six three-pointers. Adebayo added 10 points and six rebounds in 13 minutes.
Thompson went scoreless in his 13 minutes, while Mitchell contributed three points. Their production will be worth watching as the preseason continues, particularly the perimeter shooting around Giannis and Bam.
The frontcourt is the attraction. Giannis can attack the basket and force defenses to collapse, while Bam gives Miami another versatile interior presence. Consistent outside shooting would make that pairing harder to contain.
The Bench Kept the Points Coming
Miami’s reserves supplied 95 of the team’s 129 points. With the starters playing short stretches, the bench had plenty of opportunity and delivered.
Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Heat with 14 points in 11 minutes. He made all four of his field-goal attempts, including three three-pointers. Pelle Larsson added 13 points on 3-for-3 shooting from the field.
Ian Schieffelin scored 11 points and went 4-for-4 from the floor. Nikola Jović also contributed 11 points, along with seven rebounds.
Beyond this game’s scoring, having options such as Bobby Portis, Jović and Hardaway gives Miami different combinations to work with. That depth is part of what makes this roster interesting.
Toronto Could Not Keep Pace
RJ Barrett and T. Key led Toronto with 15 points apiece. Key made four of seven three-pointers, while Scottie Barnes contributed 11 points in 12 minutes. Collin Murray-Boyles collected nine rebounds.
The Raptors struggled to convert their opportunities. Toronto shot 39% from the field and 29% from three, while Miami finished at 49% and 35%, respectively.
The free-throw line widened the gap. Miami made 31 of 36 attempts; Toronto converted 19 of 30. The Heat also outrebounded the Raptors 55–43 and finished with 31 assists.
Miami had its own issue to address: 25 turnovers. Toronto recorded 17 steals, a reminder that the Heat’s execution still needs work despite the comfortable final score.
S³ Perspective: Philadelphia Leads My List, but Miami Is Dangerous
My position has not changed: the 76ers have the best starting five. But looking at Miami’s lineup and its options off the bench, the Heat belong in the contender conversation.
The biggest question is how well the pieces fit together. Miami needs reliable spacing around Giannis and Bam, consistent perimeter production and better ball security. Those details will matter much more once the regular season begins.
For now, the Heat showed productive depth and controlled the scoreboard, leading for 97% of this matchup.
Philadelphia remains my pick for the best starting five. Miami has a squad capable of making that group work for everything. The hardwood is back.
