Overview

• Miami dropped its preseason home opener to Milwaukee 103-93 to move to 0-2, with Norman Powell scoring 18 points in 16 first-half minutes.
• Nikola Jovic followed his new four-year, $62.4 million extension with a 9-8-7 line and a +11, drawing praise from Erik Spoelstra for improved rebounding activity.
• Kel’el Ware posted 18 points and 13 rebounds but was -20, and Spoelstra emphasized that he wants consistent, winning stretches rather than box-score numbers.
• The Heat again played short in the backcourt as Tyler Herro, Davion Mitchell, Terry Rozier, Pelle Larsson and Kasparas Jakucionis sat, with Simone Fontecchio also out.
• Miami is using the preseason to push pace and test frontcourt combinations between Jovic and Ware as it reshapes the offense after the Butler trade.