Heat fall to 0-2 despite Giannis's 71-point opening
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 36 points against Detroit, bringing his two-game total to 71 and matching his best scoring start to a season. [2] Miami nevertheless fell to 0-2 after allowing a franchise-worst 259 points across its first two games. [1][2]
Why it matters
Miami's opening problem is not a lack of scoring from Antetokounmpo: his joint-best two-game offensive start has coincided with the franchise's worst two-game opening defensive total. [2]
Key insights
- This is the first time Antetokounmpo has played in his team's first two games of a season without recording a win. [2]
- Milwaukee also opened 0-2 in 2015-16, but Antetokounmpo appeared in only one of those games. [2]
- Coach Erik Spoelstra said Antetokounmpo and his teammates want the partnership to work, while acknowledging that progress has not followed their preferred timeline. [2]