MIAMI — Lost in the Heat’s two season-opening home losses was history made by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
With his 35 points Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves and 36 on Friday night against the Detroit Pistons, Antetokounmpo became the first player in the franchise’s 39 seasons to score at least 30 in each of the season’s first two games.
The previous Heat scoring high over the team’s first two games was the 63 points scored by LeBron James in 2011. The 71 points by Antetokounmpo matched his high for the first two games of any of his 14 seasons.
In addition, with those efforts Antetokounmpo became the first Heat player to score at least 35 in consecutive games since Tyler Herro did it in December 2022, with 35 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder and 41 the following game against the Houston Rockets.
The paint presence in those two games was undeniable, with 24 points in the paint against the Timberwolves and then 26 in the paint against the Pistons.
As a matter of perspective, Antetokounmpo averaged 18.7 points per game in the paint last season, having led the league in paint scoring six times over the past nine seasons (not including last season, when he appeared in only 36 games and did not qualify for the official league leaders).
With his 12 rebounds against the Pistons, Antetokounmpo recorded his first Heat double-double and 482nd of his regular-season career, seventh on that list among active players.
As would be expected, the numbers hardly mattered to Antetokounmpo after the dual losses.
“We had two games in our building that we definitely (were) shocked,” he said, as the Heat turned their attention to Saturday night’s road game against the Hornets at Spectrum Center. “I feel like it kind of raised the level of urgency for everybody.
“I have to set the tone. I have to be more urgent. It’s bad, but it’s good because it puts you in a place of shock. Sometimes when good teams compete, you need to be shocked a little bit.”
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the scoring totals eventually will lead to sustained success.
“He really cares. He wants this to work. His teammates really want this to work,” Spoelstra said. “We’re going to get there.”
A homecoming
Former Heat guard Duncan Robinson said Friday night’s visit did not carry the same emotional weight as when the Pistons played last season at Kaseya Center.
After seven seasons with the Heat, Robinson was traded to Detroit on July 7, 2025 in what basically was a salary dump, with the Heat landing the lower salary of Simone Fontecchio in return.
“It’s funny,” Robinson said after closing Friday night’s game with 17 points, shooting 5 of 10 on 3-pointers, “last year, I don’t think I had as much sort of control over my emotions coming in here. It was just still very fresh. This year was very different, different feeling, just a peace of where I’m at and the situation I’m in, excited, embracing being with this group. It felt more just like playing another real game.
“Whereas last year felt somewhat different, being on this (opposing) side for the first time. But yeah, it’s always good to see a bunch of familiar faces. I spent a lot of time here, so a lot of people I really care about.”
Injury report
Guard Pelle Larsson surfaced on the Heat’s injury report Saturday with what the team listed as a sprained finger on his left hand.
The Hornets went into Saturday night’s game with three major components still sidelined, playing in the absences of Kon Knueppel (left hamstring strain), Coby White (left calf strain) and Grant Williams (right hamstring strain).
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Fort Myers TV
The Heat on Friday announced a television broadcast partnership with WINK 11.3 as a means of televising the team’s games to viewers throughout Southwest Florida.
The substation of the Fort Myers CBS affiliate otherwise airs round-the-clock weather updates.
“While our companion station, Xfinity channel 207, is the go-to station for Southwest Floridians in need of weather updates, it also gives us the quickest and most effective avenue to bring Heat basketball to viewers,” said Jamie Ricks, General Manager of WINK-TV.
This season’s Heat over-the-air viewing options:
WPLG Local 10: Local 10 will air all non-nationally televised Heat games on over-the-air television throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties.
My15 WTCN: My15 WTCN will air all available local game broadcasts in West Palm Beach and along the Treasure Coast.
Wink 11.3: Wink 11.3 will air all available local game broadcasts throughout the season across Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Glades, Hendry and DeSoto counties.
Heat English radio:
Miami-Dade / Ft Lauderdale: FM 104.3 WQAM, AM 560.
West Palm Beach: WESP ESPN West Palm 106.3 FM.
Fort Myers / Naples: WFSX Fox Sports Radio 105.9 FM.
Stuart: WSTU 1450 AM.
Florida Keys: WAVK 97.7 FM.
Heat Spanish radio:
Miami-Dade / Ft Lauderdale: WAQI Radio Mambí 710 AM.
West Palm Beach: WEFL ESPN Deportes 760AM.