Login

October 5, 2026 at 2:42 AM UTC

Postgame Report

Heat run away from Raptors, 129-105, in preseason opener

Miami turned the league's first preseason night into a 24-point rout in Toronto, with its reserves scoring freely and Kawhi Leonard sitting out.

MIA 129, TOR 105. Photo: Yahoo Sports.
MIA 129, TOR 105. Photo: Yahoo Sports.

The NBA's preseason opened Saturday in Toronto, and it was the first game of the exhibition calendar for the Raptors as well. Miami came in and made it an easy night. The Heat beat Toronto 129-105, the kind of result that says more about depth charts and open roster spots than about anything that will matter in April.

The previews had packed the night into tidy lists, three storylines here and three players to watch there. The game mostly ignored the lists. Miami's bench outscored its own starters in the stretches that counted, and the evening belonged to players trying to win minutes. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 14 in 11 minutes. Pelle Larsson added 13 and Nikola Jovic had 11 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Giannis Antetokounmpo played 14 minutes and finished with 9 points and 7 assists, and Bam Adebayo had 10 points and 6 rebounds in 13.

The 24-point margin was never in much doubt once Miami's second group got going. Toronto got 15 points each from RJ Barrett, in 17 minutes, and Tyreke Key, in 16. Scottie Barnes had 11 in 12 minutes. Malachi Smith played the most of anyone on the floor, 31 minutes, and scored 7. Jamal Shead handed out 7 assists in 28 minutes, and Collin Murray-Boyles pulled down 9 rebounds. None of it slowed Miami, which shot and passed its way clear.

Kawhi Leonard did not play. Raptors coach Rajakovic had left the door open a crack before tipoff, and it stayed that way. There was plenty of interest from outside the building too, with a prediction-and-odds piece making the rounds and live-update pages tracking the game as it went. For those who followed it that closely, it turned into a long and lopsided night.

The preview had three things to watch. Miami still won 129-105. Photo: Yahoo.
The preview had three things to watch. Miami still won 129-105. Photo: Yahoo.
Toronto hosted this game politely, and Miami accepted all 129 points of hospitality. Photo: Sports Illustrated.
Toronto hosted this game politely, and Miami accepted all 129 points of hospitality. Photo: Sports Illustrated.

Sources

All game reports