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The Miami Heat are looking for another preseason victory

By Allana Tachauer

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 08: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat dribbles with the ball against the Orlando Magic during the second half at American Airlines Arena on October 8, 2018 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 08: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat dribbles with the ball against the Orlando Magic during the second half at American Airlines Arena on October 8, 2018 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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The Miami Heat are looking for their second preseason win tonight, as they take on the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Miami Heat tip off regular 2018-19 play, exactly a week from today.

On Wednesday, October 17, the team will travel to the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, to face off against the Orlando Magic; perhaps not the most exciting way to start a new season, but a matchup fans should be anxiously awaiting nevertheless.

However, before the new campaign officially begins, the Heat still have two more preseason games on the horizon, the first of which takes place tonight.

Miami will be playing host to the New Orleans Pelicans, who are currently 0-3. Their most recent loss came at the hands of the New York Knicks last Friday, who squeezed by with an 106-100 win.

They previously fell short 116-102 to the Atlanta Hawks and 128-116 to the Chicago Bulls.

The Heat, on the other hand, are coming into the evening riding a last-minute 90-89 victory, over the Magic.

While Bam Adebayo and Josh Richardson had Heat Nation on its feet to start things off, both having come back into the lineup after being sidelined by injuries, it was Rodney McGruder who commanded countless praise after the fact.

He finished the contest with 19 points in 27 minutes, on 7-of-12 shooting from the field (going 3-for-5 from downtown), alongside eight rebounds and five assists.

So what be expected of tonight’s battle?

Well, for starters, the Pelicans will be without Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday and E’Twuan Moore, which means Ian Clark, Solomon Hill and Julius Randle will likely be starting (joining Nikola Mirotic and Elfrid Payton).

Although Randle has had a productive preseason so far, averaging 13.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists a game, Clark and Hill have yet to really look comfortable out there.

As for Mirotic, who averaged 14.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per matchup in 30 games for New Orleans last year, he’s coming off a 19-point, 12-rebound game versus the Knicks; so it’s safe to say he’s definitely someone Miami should be keeping an eye on.

With Davis and Holiday missing, and the Pelicans steady struggling, this should be a great time for head coach Erik Spoelstra to keep testing out different rotations.

Especially given that Adebayo and Richardson have re-joined the lineup.

Wayne Ellington is also reportedly making his preseason debut tonight, having been dealing with a sore ankle, and Derrick Jones Jr. is on the mend from a shoulder strain.

As always, preseason may not mean much, but with the 2018-19 NBA season literally right around the corner, any chance to work through kinks should be a welcome opportunity. And although there’s been plenty to like about the team’s first few matchups (Hassan Whiteside being back on track for example), there are certainly still things to work on.

Like the fact that the Heat haven’t been shooting it well from 3.

Next. Miami Heat: Rodney McGruder poised to breakout, a case for Butler. dark

Let Miami Heat Basketball continue.

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