After missing the 2024 playoff run, the Miami Heat might be looking forward to making a deep playoff run like the 2023 postseason. Jimmy Butler‘s right MCL sprain ruined the post-season hopes, and it might affect his preseason attendance as well. And that’s not it! Players like Duncan Robinson, Nikola Jovic, and Terry Rozier also sustained injuries last season. With such a physically disfigured squad, the Heat were totally dependent on center Bam Adebayo, who alone played over 65 games on the team last season. However, with just a few weeks left in the preseason kickoff, Miami might want to test their rusty hoopers.

Hoping to gain together their momentum and consistency, preseason is the best opportunity for the Miami Heat. With that being in consideration, let’s get to know about whom the Heat will be facing this preseason, along with their head-to-head records.

2024-25 NBA Preseason schedule: Miami Heat

The 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat, will be facing two teams from their conference and the other two teams from the Western Conference during the preseason. It will be almost a two-week-long preseason for the Heat squad, in which they’ll play a total of five games. Also, the home team will host the three matches at their home arena, FTX Arena. Meanwhile, the rest of the two games will be played on the foreign hardwood of the respective opponent teams. Here’s how the whole preseason schedule will look for the Miami Heat in the form of a chart.

All the teams that the Miami squad will be facing are below the 6th seed mark in their respective conference rankings. However, it would not be easy to beat them as the teams have either made trades or made selections from the 2024 draft class to test their preparations during the Preseason.

Preseason matchups and expected results

The first preseason game will be between the Heat and the Hornets, and the latter might pose a strategic risk to Miami. The Charlotte front office transformed its coaching staff this summer, appointing Chris Jent, Lamar Skeeter, Josh Longstaff, Ryan Frazier, Blaine Mueller, Jermaine Bucknor, and Matt Hill. However, apart from signing G/F Keyontae Johnson, the Hornets haven’t made significant roster moves, and that’s why the Miami Heat stand strong in comparison to their opponents.

After the debut preseason kickoff game, the Miami Heat squad will make sure to establish their reputation with three home preseason games. The first contender against Miami at home will be the Atlanta Hawks, who have picked up the No. 1 draft pick from the 2024 NBA draft class, Zaccharie Risacher. Meanwhile, the Hawks front office has just traded their assets this summer to acquire players like Larry Nance Jr., E.J. Liddell, Cody Zeller, Nikola Djurisic, Dyson Daniels, and David Roddy. With strong bench strength and players like Larry having 57.3% field goal percentage, the Heat-Hawks matchup is expected to be intense.

The most prominent move from the New Orleans Pelicans this offseason was trading players with the Hawks and acquiring a second-round pick. They got Kentucky shooting guard Antonio Reeves as the no.17th pick. But surprisingly, he can be a key asset to the Pelicans team as he is a clutch player with 45% shooting from the three-point line. Also, the Pelicans signed Javonte Green, who has been an absolute menace on the defensive end with scoring skills. If Miami can beat their defense, the victory will belong to the Heat.

San Antonio Spurs are the opponent who will be a tough matchup for the Miami Heat. The Spurs already have stars like Victor Wembanyama as center and veteran point guard Chris Paul. Both of them have been coming off great seasons, averaging 21.4 points and 6.8 assists, respectively. And Coach Gregg Popovich has got another blazing youngster from UConn, a first-rounder fourth overall pick, Stephon Castle. Along with other role players like Harrison Barnes, it will be difficult for the Heat to stop the Spurs.

The biggest move that the Grizzlies could make this offseason was to recruit a round 1 no.9 draft pick, Zach Edey. Also, they acquired a second-round player, Jaylen Wells, at no. 39 pick. Meanwhile, Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. might enter healthy in the squad to establish their command. Overall, the Grizz will try to crush the spirits of Miami before the regular season kickoff.

Nevertheless, all the mentioned facts stand for the present-day standings of the teams. However, if we analyze the statistical head-on-head record, the results might not concur differently from the contemporary analysis.

Miami Heat head-to-head record against Preseason opponents

Coming to the head-on-head records, here’s how the Heat have performed against their 2024 preseason rivals in the past during regular season games on an All-Time record basis.

Going through it all, which teams do you think will be able to break the norms from the past and surprise the Miami Heat this preseason? Let us know in the comments!

Before you go, do not forget to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Asia Avinger