Miami Heat fans wasted little time celebrating after Giannis Antetokounmpo helped lead their new-look side to a 129-105 preseason victory over the Toronto Raptors.
Antetokounmpo scored nine points in just 14 minutes, shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from the field while adding four rebounds and seven assists as Miami made a fast start in Quebec City.
The Heat built a 21-point lead by half-time, scoring 76 points while shooting 53.7 per cent from the field and 47.8 per cent from three. Bam Adebayo added 10 points and six rebounds, while Andrew Wiggins had 12 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. finished with 14.
Miami Heat fans are already dreaming big after Giannis Antetokounmpo’s debut
The result was only a preseason opener, but that did little to dampen the excitement among Miami supporters.
One fan summed up the mood with: “That Larry is really ours”.
Others were just as enthusiastic, writing: “We’re so back”, “MIAMI HAVE A TEAM!!!!!!” and “JUST GIVE US THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP ALREADY”.
There was also plenty of praise for the way the new-look rotation performed, with one supporter saying: “that rotation already looks spicy”.
Another fan was particularly impressed by the overall energy, posting: “A great start to the pre season! New Heat era is here.”
The balanced scoring also caught attention, with one supporter calling for more of the same once the regular season begins: “Everybody got busy today. I want to see that way more in the regular season. We need more than 4 players averaging double digits”.
Miami’s starters and several reserves only played in the first half, allowing the Heat to manage minutes while still taking control of the game. The biggest positive was that the team came through the opener without any injuries.
The Heat now turn their attention to their next preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 8, with fans already expecting plenty more from this new-look group.
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