With three losses to open the season, the Miami Heat are still looking for the first win of the Giannis Antetokounmpo Era.
The Heat get another shot at that elusive victory on Monday night when they play host to the Dallas Mavericks.
Antetokounmpo averaged 35.5 points in his first two games in a Heat uniform, but he was held to 14 on Saturday in a 115-110 loss at Charlotte. He played just 25 minutes before fouling out with 1:57 remaining.
A 10-time All-Star, two-time NBA MVP and one-time league champion, Antetokounmpo was the prize in the huge offseason trade with the Milwaukee Bucks. But the question then — and now — was whether Miami gave up too much to get him. Specifically, do the Heat have enough shooters to put around him?
Bam Adebayo, Miami’s other established star, is off to a slow start as he averages 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Point guard Davion Mitchell has stepped up, averaging 17.0 points on 46.7% 3-point shooting. Both numbers would easily be career highs for Mitchell, a player known more for tight defense.
Aside from those three players, nobody on the Heat averages more than 10.3 points. Andrew Wiggins (18.2% on 3-point attempts) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (17.6% from deep) are off to poor shooting starts that are similar to Adebayo (23.1%) and Antetokounmpo (16.7%).
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra knows it’s early, though, and said this is all part of this version of the Heat learning to handle adversity.
“We’re all on the same page when shots are going down,” Spoelstra said after the loss to Charlotte. “But when the game goes the other way, we really introduce ourselves to each other and collectively build a resolve.”
Meanwhile, the Mavericks are coming off a 122-106 home loss to San Antonio on Saturday.
Dallas played without reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, who injured his left shoulder in a 121-105 win over Indiana on Friday and will be re-evaluated this week.
Nine-time All-Star Kyrie Irving, coming off knee surgery, also sat against San Antonio but is expected to be ready to face the Heat.
Without that duo on Saturday, Dallas was led by rookie reserve Sergio de Larrea, the No. 25 pick in this year’s draft (by the Los Angeles Lakers).
A native of Spain, de Larrea is a skilled combo guard listed at 6-foot-5 and 175 pounds. At age 20, he offers Dallas hope that he could develop into a star. He produced 21 points, five rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes against the Spurs after going scoreless in eight minutes during the Mavs’ first two games.
“Today it was me, but other days it will be other guys,” said de Larrea. “I’m waiting every day for this moment. I’m just trying to be prepared, but I have a lot to improve.”
Irving, if he’s ready, will try to improve on his 19.5 scoring average. Flagg leads the team with 23.0 points per game.
