Heat's 2024-25 preseason schedule provides test against NBA's brightest young stars

The Miami Heat’s preseason schedule will feature some of the brightest young stars in the NBA.

The Heat will begin their preseason slate against the Charlotte Hornets on the road on Oct. 8, followed by three straight homes before closing out the exhibition schedule in Memphis against the Grizzlies.

Here the Heat’s full 2024-25 preseason schedule:

Oct. 8 at Charlotte Hornets (7pm ET)

Oct. 10 vs Atlanta Hawks (7:30pm ET)

Oct. 13 vs New Orleans Pelicans (3:30pm ET)

Oct. 15 vs San Antonio Spurs (7:30 pm ET)

Oct. 18 at Memphis Grizzlies (8pm ET)

Over their final three preseason games, the Heat will face New Orleans’ Zion Williamson, San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama and Memphis’ Ja Morant. The first two games will be against Southeast division rivals looking to return to the playoffs.

It’s a tough slate but one that will provide Miami with a chance to test itself before the start of the regular season.

Although they are coming off a disappointing season that ended with a first-round exit to the eventual-champion Boston Celtics, the Heat are aiming higher in 2024-25. With better injury luck, and more engaged Jimmy Butler and contributions from rising young players like Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic and Kel’el Ware, the Heat should improve on last season’s outcome.

Among other schedule announcements, it was revealed that the Heat will not be playing on opening night or be featured in the NBA’s Christmas Day showcase.

The NBA will announce the NBA Cup schedule (previously known as the In-Season Tournament) on Tuesday afternoon. The full regular season schedule will be released later this month.