The Miami Heat will open the 2026-27 NBA preseason schedule against the Toronto Raptors in Quebec City on Saturday, October 3. This exhibition could feature the debut of new star Giannis Antetokounmpo in a Heat jersey. The team enters this new phase with positive energy, coming off a dominant 143-117 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on April 12. That win extended their current streak to two games, with a recent form reading WWLLW over their last five outings.
The preseason opener is set for 7 p.m. ET on NBA TV and NBA League Pass. It's part of the NBA Canada series. Following that, preseason action continues on Sunday, October 4 with two other games. The Golden State Warriors will face the Los Angeles Clippers in Honolulu. Simultaneously, the Utah Jazz take on the Denver Nuggets in Boulder, Colorado. Both of those games are also scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and will be available on League Pass.
Training camps for all 30 teams opened earlier this week. The preseason schedule is a final tune-up before the regular season grind begins. For the Heat, it's a first look at how new pieces might fit into their system. Fans can track the full buildup to the season on our [fixtures](/fixtures) page.
This isn't just any exhibition. The matchup with Toronto could be the first chance to see Giannis Antetokounmpo on the court for Miami. He was acquired in a massive offseason trade with the Milwaukee Bucks. His integration will define the Heat's ceiling this season. On the other side, Kawhi Leonard returns to the Raptors after a high-profile trade from the LA Clippers. Star availability in preseason is always fluid, but the potential storylines are significant.
The Heat's offense showed explosive potential at the end of last season. They scored 140 points against Washington on April 10 and put up 152 in a win over the Wizards on April 4. But consistency was an issue, as seen in losses to Toronto (128-114 and 121-95) and Boston (147-129). Preseason is where they'll work to smooth out those defensive inconsistencies.
While the full regular season schedule is still to come, the league has confirmed several important calendar markers. The preseason period runs from October 3 through mid-October. The regular season is expected to begin in late October, following the conclusion of the exhibition slate. Key events like the trade deadline, All-Star break, and playoffs will be announced later.
For the Heat, the focus is squarely on the present. Building chemistry with new additions is the immediate task. The team's recent 2-game winning run, capped by that 26-point win over Atlanta, provides a solid foundation. Every minute of preseason court time will be used to refine rotations and defensive schemes ahead of the real tests to come.
