Heat fall to 0-4 in preseason, as starters sit, Mitchell returns, Ware shines, Jakucionis sidelined

ORLANDO — If there is to be a preseason dress rehearsal for the Heat’s Oct. 22 regular-season opener, coach Erik Spoelstra made clear Sunday that it would not come against his team’s season-opening opponent.

So 11 days from the start of the Heat’s 38th season, Spoelstra gave the night off to the three players seemingly locked into his opening-night starting lineup: Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins and Norman Powell.

Instead, in the fourth of the Heat’s six exhibitions, Spoelstra rolled out the mix-and-match starting lineup of Kel’el Ware, Keshad Johnson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Pelle Larsson and Davion Mitchell against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center, with the Heat falling to 0-4 in the preseason with a 120-104 loss.

Of those five, Ware and Mitchell would appear to be the only possible opening-night starters, with no guarantee.

Also held out Sunday by Spoelstra were Dru Smith and Simone Fontecchio, who has been recovering from a leg issue.

“There’s a lot of moving parts,” Spoelstra said. “It’s the middle of the preseason right now, so I think on both sides we’re trying to figure it out.”

That could make Monday night in Atlanta against the Hawks at State Farm Arena a potential dress rehearsal.

But even then, it won’t be the complete Heat by any stretch, this time with first-round pick Kasparas Jakucionis lost for the night in the first quarter due to a sore right hip.

The Heat then conclude their preseason schedule Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies at Kaseya Center.

Five Degrees of Heat from Sunday night’s exhibition:

1. Still nothing: So make it four exhibitions and still no time on the court together this preseason for Adebayo and Ware, who made his first start of the preseason.

Ware again was effective, this time closing with 24 points and 10 rebounds in 24:38, at 9 of 17 from the field, including 2 of 4 on 3-pointers.

Spoelstra had started fourth-year Nikola Jovic alongside Adebayo in the power rotation in the first three exhibitions. Jovic did not travel for this two-game trip due to back pain.

Ware and Adebayo finished last season as the Heat’s starting power rotation.

“Well, we did see some good moments with them last year and I’ll continue to be open to it,” Spoelstra said before the game of possibly getting back to that pairing. “We’re looking at some other things right now, but all things are on the table.”

2. Davion’s debut: Sunday marked the preseason debut of Mitchell, who had missed the first three exhibitions with calf soreness that flared up at the close of training camp at Florida Atlantic University.

Mitchell played only in the first half, going 9:59, with two points on a pair of free throws, missing his lone attempt from the field, and two assists.

With Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier, Jovic and Smith out, it cleared the path for Mitchell to start.

“It was great to have him in practice yesterday, just the energy level went up,” Spoelstra said of Saturday’s session at Kaseya Center.

“He had some great moments going down the stretch for us (last season). He has that competitive spirit that we like. So it’s good to have him back.”

3. And another one: Jakucionis lasted only 4:27 before being lost for the night.

The No. 20 pick in June’s draft out of Illinois still had time to connect yet again with Ware for an alley-oop dunk, but that proved to be his lone assist.

Otherwise, he closed 0 for 2 from the field, a pair of missed 3-pointers, with two points.

It was Jakucionis’ second preseason appearance, after being sidelined at the end of camp and then for the first two exhibitions with a sprained left wrist.

4. Save the date: It was as if both coaches did not want to show their hand ahead of their season-opening matchup, as was somewhat the case when the teams met a week ago in Puerto Rico in an exhibition won by the Magic.

This time the Magic were without rotation regulars Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Jalen Suggs and Moe Wagner, giving the first two the night off for rest.

“Everybody is just trying to get ready and it’s the middle of the preseason right now,” Spoelstra said. “So I think it’s more like finding out who’s available, who needs to take a day, more than trying to hide your cards. That’s just kind of the reality of the preseason in the National Basketball Association.”

5. Ongoing concern: Even as a starter, Larsson’s night was limited due to an ongoing concern, forced to the bench after just 11 minutes of action with a fourth foul committed with 4:23 to play in the second period. Larsson then was called for his fifth foul 2:43 into the second half.

He nonetheless persevered to close with 14 points, three assists and two rebounds in 20:50.

The 2024 second-round pick out of Arizona and Spoelstra have previously addressed the fouling issue, which also was a concern with Larsson in international competition.