The Miami Heat’s first game of the 2026-2027 NBA season left one big issue hanging in the air, and it goes beyond simply missing shots. After getting handled by the Timberwolves and failing to stay competitive for all four quarters, Miami is already looking for answers before the season gets away from them. It’s only one game, so there’s no reason to panic, but there is reason to pay attention.
The obvious takeaway from that loss was the three-point shooting, but that may not have been the real problem. Yes, the Heat were not able to knock down enough of their looks.
But in basketball, some nights the shots just don’t fall. What stood out more was how hard it was for Miami to create quality attempts in the first place.
That matters because early in the season, teams are still figuring out how everything fits together. The easiest way to smooth that process out is to see the ball go through the basket.
Minnesota did that, and it showed in the way the game unfolded. Miami, meanwhile, could not turn its chances into momentum, and once that started, it spilled into other areas.
Outside of Antetokounmpo, the Heat did not have much of a scoring threat, which made them easier to guard.
That is where the real adjustment has to come in. Miami needs to be more intentional about using Antetokounmpo’s gravity to get others involved.
He is going to get his points, but the Heat will help themselves even more if his presence creates cleaner looks for everybody else. They also need to stop passing up opportunities and be more decisive in general.
The roster does have shooters capable of carrying that load. Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. were the first names that come to mind, and Thompson backed that up.
Hardaway, though, struggled. Bobby Portis Jr. is another piece who belongs in that conversation.
He was second in 3 point percentage last season and has been a dangerous shooter throughout his career, with a 39% mark from deep.
Portis has usually taken about four threes per game in recent seasons, so his value comes from efficiency more than volume. Still, this Heat group would benefit from pushing that number closer to 5-6, especially compared with some of the other attempts being taken around him. In no game should Andrew Wiggins, Bam Adebayo, or Nikola Jovic be taking more shots from deep than Portis.
That does not mean the other players should stop shooting. It just means the distribution needs to make more sense.
If Adebayo is taking five and Portis is taking two, those numbers should probably be flipped. The issue is less about makes and misses than it is about shot quality, and shot quality starts with getting the right guys the right chances.
It is still early, and one loss does not define a season. But if the Heat keep looking this way, this could turn into a frustrating year fast.
In Other News...
Heat May Not Be Done Adding Veterans Around Giannis
The Heat already spent the offseason reshaping the roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo, bringing in Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. to add veteran scoring and shooting before opening the regular season against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Even after that flurry of moves, Miami appears to be keeping its options open as it looks for more proven help to support its new centerpiece.
One name now circulating is Jrue Holiday, the veteran guard currently with the Portland Trail Blazers and a player who would reunite with Antetokounmpo after their time together in Milwaukee. Nothing is confirmed, and the idea remains speculative for now, but it underscores how aggressively Miami may continue to hunt for established veterans if the right deal presents itself. [Read more 🡒]
Bam Adebayo Is Already Facing Heat Pressure After One Game
Opening night brought the kind of early-season scrutiny Bam Adebayo knows comes with being the face of Miamis frontcourt. After the Heat fell to Minnesota, ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins quickly raised the bar on what he thinks Adebayo needs to bring offensively, arguing that Miami will need more than an All-Star-level scoring night if it wants to stay in the Eastern Conference mix.
Adebayos line was solid on paper, with 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals, but the bigger concern was how the game looked when he was on the floor. The Heat were outscored by 28 points with him in the game, and the conversation now is less about whether he can anchor Miamis defense than whether his offense has to jump to another level for this team to hold its ground. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Already Face A Ryan Conwell Rotation Decision
After a season-opening loss, the Heats biggest early question may not be a dramatic shakeup so much as a simple rotation call. Miami needs more consistent guard play, and Ryan Conwell has already made a case for himself after showing real offensive promise in the preseason. Even in a crowded backcourt picture, his ability to bring scoring punch gives the staff another option to consider as it tries to settle the group around what works best.
Erik Spoelstra has never been shy about changing the mix when the moment calls for it, and Conwell now looks like a player who could force that kind of discussion sooner rather than later. The comparison with Nikola Jovic only sharpens the decision, since the Heat are weighing different ways to find more reliable production without losing the balance they want on the floor. For Miami, the answer may be less about who is ready in theory and more about who can help right now. [Read more 🡒]