(Photo Courtesy of the NBA)
One final preseason tune-up before the games start to count!
The Miami Heat travel north to face the Orlando Magic tonight at Kia Center, wrapping up their 2026 preseason schedule before returning home for Wednesday’s regular-season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Miami enters tonight’s matchup with a 3-1 preseason record following an impressive 144-128 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. The Heat have shown plenty of offensive firepower throughout the preseason, providing an encouraging glimpse of what this revamped roster could accomplish once the regular season gets underway.
However, Erik Spoelstra will be without his two biggest stars tonight.
Giannis Antetokounmpo will receive the night off, while Bam Adebayo remains sidelined with a groin injury. Pelle Larsson will also miss the game due to illness. Their absences should provide additional opportunities for Miami’s reserves and younger players to make one final impression before the coaching staff settles on its regular-season rotations.
Orlando enters the matchup with a 2-1 preseason record and presents another interesting test for Miami. With Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane leading the way, the Magic have plenty of offensive weapons of their own.
Although it’s only the preseason, Miami would certainly love to close things out on a winning note before turning its attention to opening night.
STARTING LINEUPS
Miami Heat
Davion Mitchell, PG
Klay Thompson, SG
Andrew Wiggins, SF
Bobby Portis, PF
Nikola Jović, C
Orlando Magic
Jalen Suggs, PG
Desmond Bane, SG
Franz Wagner, SF
Paolo Banchero, PF
Wendell Carter Jr., C
INJURY REPORT / PLAYER AVAILABILITY
Miami Heat
Giannis Antetokounmpo — OUT (rest)
Bam Adebayo — OUT (groin)
Pelle Larsson — OUT (illness)
Dru Smith — OUT (calf)
Keshad Johnson — AVAILABLE (hamstring)
Orlando Magic
Anthony Black — OUT (ankle)
Jonathan Isaac — OUT (knee)
Izaiyah Nelson — OUT (ankle)
Nikola Vučević — AVAILABLE
Jalen Suggs — AVAILABLE
GAME INFO
Matchup: Miami Heat (3-1) at Orlando Magic (2-1)
Date: Friday, October 16, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: Kia Center — Orlando, Florida
TV: WPLG Local 10 (South Florida), Magic TV 27 (Orlando)
Radio: 104.3 FM / 1140 AM (South Florida)
Tonight marks the end of the preseason, and the next time Miami takes the floor, the games will count.
One final opportunity for Spoelstra to evaluate his roster, experiment with different combinations and prepare the Heat for what promises to be an exciting season.
Let’s go HEAT!
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