Giannis Antetokounmpo posts 9 points, 7 assists in first Heat appearance, rests second half

On Saturday night, the Miami Heat welcomed the Toronto Raptors to Québec City for a preseason game. In the spotlight was star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, making his debut appearance with his new team. Antetokounmpo played only the first half of the 129-105 preseason blowout win, yet his limited action proved impactful for the Heat. The forward scored only 9 points, but his seven assists were crucial to the game's outcome.

Andrew Wiggins opened the scoring for the Heat off a pass from Antetokounmpo, leading to several common plays where the star forward drove towards the basket, then kicked the ball out to an open teammate for a three-pointer. Antetokounmpo showcased his smooth jumper during the game, as he converted three out of three field goal attempts and went 3-for-4 from the charity stripe.

Despite playing only 14 minutes in the first half, Antetokounmpo was nearly at a double-double. With Miami leading by 20 points through the first two quarters, the Heat rested their starters for the second half. Antetokounmpo introduced a new pre-game ritual, similar to the sprint Russell Westbrook used to do ahead of the action, adding his own flair.

This marked Antetokounmpo's first trade since joining the Milwaukee Bucks, where he was sent along with Bobby Portis for Tyler Herro, Kelsey Plum, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, and multiple draft picks. The Heat will face the New Orleans Pelicans, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, and Orlando Magic in their remaining preseason games before beginning the regular season on October 21 against Minnesota.