Antetokounmpo set for Heat debut as NBA season resumes
Giannis Antetokounmpo is set to begin his Miami Heat era against Minnesota as the NBA stages 11 games, with Utah and Golden State also starting rookies.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo is set to begin his Miami Heat era against the Minnesota Timberwolves as the 2026-27 NBA season continues with 11 games on Wednesday. The matchup starts at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The schedule also includes the Utah Jazz against the Memphis Grizzlies at 8 p.m. ET and the Golden State Warriors against the Los Angeles Lakers at 10 p.m. ET.
Miami open a new chapter
The Heat enter the season after missing the playoffs for the first time in seven years. They finished last season with a 43-39 record but lost in the Play-In Tournament, despite winning more games than they lost. At home, Miami went 26-15.
Antetokounmpo arrives as a two-time NBA MVP and 10-time All-Star. He averaged at least 29.9 points per game in four consecutive seasons before an injury-plagued campaign last year.
Miami have also added veterans Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr.
Rookies in focus elsewhere
Utah rookie Darryn Peterson is expected to start against Memphis, with SportsLine expert Prop Bet Guy Doug saying he is likely to share on-ball duties with Keyonte George. Peterson finished the preseason strongly.
Golden State rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is also expected to start when the Warriors meet the Lakers. SportsLine expert Larry Hartstein said Lendeborg could play substantial minutes because Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis and Moses Moody will be absent.
Lendeborg won Summer League MVP and averaged 15.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists during the preseason. In two preseason meetings with the Lakers, he averaged 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes.
Source: CBS Sports. This article was compiled by the iBET.news newsroom from the source report and other public information.
