Giannis Debuts for Miami Heat as Preseason Rout of Toronto Opens Camp
Nine points and seven assists in 14 minutes in Quebec City; Spoelstra praises Magic-like vision
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With the Heat up by about 20 at halftime, Miami sat its starters after the break. An announced crowd of 18,474 watched the first NBA game in Quebec City, Eurohoops noted.
Spoelstra’s Magic comparison
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra praised Antetokounmpo’s playmaking after facing him in the playoffs three times with Milwaukee. “With the size and the vision and his ability to put it on the numbers to shooters is really impressive,” Spoelstra said, per The Athletic via theScore and Eurohoops. He added that Antetokounmpo reminded the staff of “a great big point guard that played for Pat back in the ’80s,” a reference to Magic Johnson under Pat Riley.
Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis arrived from the Bucks in a summer trade for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis and draft picks. Miami opens the regular season at home against Minnesota on Oct. 21.
Sources: Yahoo Sports; Miami Herald / theScore / Eurohoops; The Athletic via theScore.
