The Miami Heat have opened the 2026-27 NBA season with back-to-back defeats despite high expectations heading into the campaign.

Miami suffered a 128-111 loss to the Detroit Pistons, despite another impressive performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who joined the team from the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster offseason trade.

Giannis scored 36 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in 33 minutes against Detroit, following his 35-point effort in the Heat’s opening loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

However, Miami’s other starters struggled to make an impact, with Bam Adebayo scoring four points, Klay Thompson adding six and Andrew Wiggins managing eight against the Pistons.

Speaking after the defeat, Giannis expressed confidence that the Heat’s slow start would push the team to raise its urgency and improve its performances.

“Sometimes when things don’t go your way you get discouraged, your defense is not as good but at the end of the day, I feel like once we are locked in and we trust one another in all levels, offense becomes easier, defense becomes easier and right now, it’s not where it should be, but we’ve got to keep on taking good things from the game” Giannis said.