VITALS: The Heat and Lakers meet for the first of two matchups this regular season. Last season, Los Angeles won both matchups and has now won three in a row against Miami overall. The HEAT are 34-42 all-time versus the Lakers during the regular season, including 23-15 at home and 11-27 on the road. Davion Mitchell has posted four double-doubles already this season after recording five all of last season. Bam Adebayo is 42 offensive boards from tying Rony Seikaly for the third-most in team history. Giannis Antetokounmpo has totaled 58 career triple-doubles. Erik Spoelstra has recorded 942 career wins (832 regular season and 110 postseason) with the HEAT, previously passing Red Auerbach (885) for the third-most by a head coach with a single franchise in NBA history. Next on the list is Jerry Sloan (Jazz) with 1,223 wins, followed by Gregg Popovich (Spurs) with 1,560. The Lakers biggest acquisition in the offseason center Walker Kessler, who was with the Utah Jazz. This season, Kessler is averaging 14 points and nine rebounds. The Lakers are in their first season without LeBron James, who left during free agency to play for the Philadelphia 76ers. James, who also played in Miami, led both the Lakers and Heat to titles during his tenure. This has been a coming out season for Lakers star Austin Reaves, who is now the No. 2 option on the team. He is averaging 23.8 points and 5.3 assists and 3.5 rebounds. Despite all the turmoil when he was drafted to play with his father, Bronny James remains on the roster.
