The 2024-25 regular season schedule has been released! Which Miami Heat games should you be circling on your calendar? Let’s dive into it!
Oct. 23: vs. Orlando Magic
Miami will open the regular season against Orlando for the fifth time in nine seasons. In the previous four meetings, it went 1-3; it’s worth noting all four of those games were inside Amway Center.
The Heat went 3-1 against the Magic last year. According to NBA.com, their plus-5.9 NET Rating against the Magic was their ninth-best against any single opponent.
For more on that game, click here.
Nov. 2: vs. Washington Wizards
Yeah, yeah, it’s the Washington Wizards. Nothing particularly exciting. However, this game will be played in Mexico City, the third time Miami will have played in Mexico in franchise history. The game will coincide with Día de los Muertos, a locally-celebrated holiday! The game marks the 33rd game played in Mexico–including the 31st in Mexico City–the most by any country outside the United States and Canada.
“Bringing the Heat and the Wizards to Mexico City next season in conjunction with ‘Dia de los Muertos’ will mark another special milestone in the NBA’s long history in Mexico,” Raul Zarraga, NBA Mexico senior vice president and managing director, said via release. “The game and surrounding events will serve as the ultimate celebration of the NBA for fans in Mexico and across Latin America at a time when the momentum around basketball in the region is at an all-time high.”
Nov. 10: @ Minnesota Timberwolves
It’s always a joy watching Anthony Edwards play basketball. But the Heat have beaten Minnesota just twice (in 10 games) since Jimmy Butler’s arrived. In games he’s played against his former team, the Heat are just 1-4 over that span with a minus-3.4 NET Rating in such performances. This game will also be the third of a grueling six-game road trip that features Phoenix, Denver and Indiana (twice).
Nov. 12: vs. Detroit Pistons
Speaking of the six-game road trip, its contest against Detroit was the lone opponent I omitted. This game will be Miami’s In-Season Tournament opener in Group B play, which will include one more on the road and one at home. They swept the season series over the lowly Pistons last year, though two of those four wins came by one possession.
Nov. 18: vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Play the tribute video! This will be Caleb Martin’s first game back for Miami after signing a four-year deal with Philadelphia this offseason. He reportedly left a lot of money on the table to head up north, but the 6-foot-5 wing projects to be a starting-level wing alongside newly-signed Paul George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Nov. 26: vs. Milwaukee Bucks
This will mark the first of two nationally-televised games between Miami and Milwaukee (both on TNT). This will also be the Heat’s penultimate Group B game of in-season tournament play, where it will also face Detroit (listed above), Indiana and Toronto.
Miami and Milwaukee were also in the same group last year in the final game. The Bucks slammed the door shut on Miami’s chances to advance to the knockout round, losing 131-124.
Dec. 2: @ Boston Celtics
Miami’s first rematch against rival Boston, the reigning NBA champs, comes on the second night of a back-to-back. The two foes will square off four times, with three of them coming on the first or second night of a back-to-back for Miami.
The Celtics bested the Heat in five games last postseason and have had their number over the last three regular seasons, going 7-3 with a plus-9.9 NET Rating.
Jan. 1: vs. New Orleans Pelicans
For the first time since 2016-17, the Heat will have games on New Year’s Day in back-to-back seasons. They are 6-3 in nine New Year’s games, though all three of their losses have come consecutively in their most recent New Year’s bouts. Their last NYD win came in the 2015-16 season against the Dallas Mavericks, 106-82.
Jan. 12: @ Los Angeles Clippers
This game marks Miami’s first game inside the newly-built Intuit Dome, which will debut this fall! This state-of-the-art facility cost $2 billion to construct. It is located in Inglewood, Calif., near SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Rams) and the old Kia Forum, where the Los Angeles Lakers played from 1967-1999.
The new-look Clippers will also be without Paul George, who signed a four-year max with Philadelphia, for the first time since Kawhi Leonard joined ahead of the 2019-20 season.
Jan. 23: @ Bucks
Barring the postseason, will this be the last Heat regular season game that legendary broadcaster Marv Albert calls? Warner Bros. Discovery (TNT) will no longer have media rights beyond the 2024-25 season–instead going to Amazon and NBCUniversal (NBC/Peacock). The recently-signed TV deal will last 11 seasons for over $75 billion, more than triple what the current nine-year deal costs.
March 17: @ New York Knicks
The Knicks and Heat play thrice this season, though this will be their only game inside Madison Square Garden. Miami’s lost each of their last four inside MSG after winning five of its previous six. This game is one of its only five away from Kaseya Center in the month of March.
April 13: vs. Wizards
I know, another against Washington. But this will mark the end of the 2024-25 regular season.
Who knows whether or not this game will have seeding implications? The Heat was one game out of the No. 5 seed in the air-tight middle of the East a year ago. Winning this game would be key, should they be in a similar situation yet again.
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Thank you to the writers who keep this blog going even in the absence of many comments. Can’t wait til training camp and the season!
It looks everybody are on holidays but them. Good work.
I second this, thanks HHH team. A real resource for Heat nation