Matt Hanifan

PRESEASON GAMETHREAD: San Antonio Spurs (1-0) v. Miami Heat (0-2)

120 Comments / GameThreads / Matt Hanifan

The Miami Heat continue their six-game preseason trek with a Wednesday bout against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. Miami lost Monday in its preseason home opener to the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Milwaukee Bucks, though the result hardly mattered. The Heat got very encouraging performances from Nikola Jovic, Andrew Wiggins and Norman Powell, who scored […]

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Hanifan: The Heat’s big man rotation is still too thin to justify

Leave a Comment / Analysis / Matt Hanifan

We are exactly three weeks away from the Miami Heat’s season opener against the Orlando Magic inside Kia Center. We are just two games into the Heat’s preseason, with the third of six total preseason affairs tipping off in a matter of moments against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. Are there any overarching

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Heat have played fast in preseason. Will it stick?

2 Comments / Analysis / Matt Hanifan

At this time last year, the Miami Heat was not only focused on changing its shot diet, but tailoring their offense around Terry Rozier and Tyler Herro, taking more pressure off Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. The Heat were more intentional attempting threes and keeping the offense spaced during the preseason. Though they quickly reverted

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Erik Spoelstra continues to push Kel’el Ware to be more impactful

5 Comments / News / Matt Hanifan

In July, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra made national headlines by publicly criticizing second-year center Kel’el Ware after the 7-footer was noticeably lethargic against weaker competition. While his disposition improved dramatically in the final two games in Las Vegas, Nev., it has regressed at the start of preseason. Ware tied a team-high with 18

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Erik Spoelstra desperately wants Nikola Jovic to rebound better

2 Comments / News / Matt Hanifan

Through two preseason games, Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic has been one of the team’s best players. While the 22-year-old didn’t score his first basket of the night until the second half in the Heat’s 103-93 loss to the Bucks, Jovic looked great in the open court as a decision-maker and held his own defensively.

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Heat lose preseason home opener to Bucks 103-93

32 Comments / Game Recaps / Matt Hanifan

The Miami Heat dropped their home preseason opener to the Milwaukee Bucks 103-93. It’s preseason, so the results don’t matter much. What does matter is that Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Nikola Jovic picked up right where they left off. Powell tied a team-high with 18 points in 16 minutes, shooting 6-of-12 from the floor,

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Nikola Jovic’s contract details revealed

4 Comments / News / Matt Hanifan

Last week, the Miami Heat signed fourth-year forward Nikola Jovic to a four-year, $62.4 million extension, which won’t kick in until the 2026-27 season. While it was originally expected that Jovic’s first-year salary would be around $13.8 million with eight percent raises each season — the structure that most extensions follow — his contract details

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PRESEASON GAMETHREAD: Milwaukee Bucks (0-0) vs. Miami Heat (0-1)

77 Comments / GameThreads / Matt Hanifan

The Miami Heat return home for their preseason home opener Monday night against the Milwaukee Bucks at 7:30 p.m. EST. This will be Milwaukee’s first preseason game, while the Heat opened their preseason in Puerto Rico against the Orlando Magic, losing 126-118. Miami will be without five guards, including Tyler Herro, Davion Mitchell and Pelle

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Heat drop preseason opener to Magic 126-118

28 Comments / Game Recaps / Matt Hanifan

The Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat began their 2025-26 preseason action in Puerto Rico on Saturday night, with the Magic coming out on top, 126-118. Miami entered Saturday without the majority of its guard rotation, led by Tyler Herro and Davion Mitchell. The Magic were also without guard Jalen Suggs, still recovering from arthroscopic

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2025-26 PRESEASON GAMETHREAD: Miami Heat (0-0) vs. Orlando Magic (0-0)

32 Comments / GameThreads / Matt Hanifan

Preseason basketball has officially arrived! The Miami Heat will play the first of their six preseason games Saturday night against the Orlando Magic in San Juan, Puerto Rico, at 8:00 p.m. EST on NBATV! Miami will be without five guards, including Tyler Herro, Davion Mitchell and Pelle Larsson. Orlando will be without the Wagner brothers

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Author name: Matt Hanifan