Antetokounmpo notches massive stat line in Miami’s win over Nets

It’s just the NBA preseason, but Giannis Antetokounmpo is going all gas, no brakes.

On Oct. 15, 2026, the Greek Freak led the Miami Heat to their third preseason win as they dominated the Brooklyn Nets, 144-128, in front of an energetic crowd at Kaseya Center in Florida.

In just his third game wearing the Miami uniform, the bruising power forward nearly notched a triple-double in just 23 minutes of playing time, recording 20 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists, three blocks, and a steal.

Antetokounmpo surpassed his 18-4-4 stat line against the New Orleans Pelicans, filled the shoes of the absent Bam Adebayo, and went to work inside the shaded lane against the Nets.

From playing a point-forward role in the last two games, head coach Erik Spoelstra directed his new superstar to go all-out every time they went off to the races after a defensive rebound, schooling Brooklyn’s transition defense with his finishing ability on the break.

Antetokounmpo couldn’t be stopped driving downhill, forcing the Brooklyn coaching staff to deploy a double-big frontcourt rotation in hopes of slowing him down inside.

However, Antetokounmpo quickly adjusted when Brooklyn’s defensive schemes focused on him, reverting to being the team’s floor general and setting up Andrew Wiggins, Klay Thompson, and Davion Mitchell to get their offense going.

With the Nets inching closer after wrapping up the third quarter with a 9-2 run, Spoelstra made a surprising decision to send Antetokounmpo back in at the start of the final frame.

That coaching decision then paid dividends for the Heat as Antetokounmpo added four more points, grabbed two more rebounds, and dished out an assist before sitting out the game for good.

His three-minute presence proved to be the difference-maker for Miami, turning a three-point game into a 13-point lead at the 7:34 mark of the fourth quarter.

Backstopping Antetokounmpo in the convincing win was Wiggins, who fired 19 points on an efficient 8-of-15 shooting, alongside six rebounds, an assist, and a steal.

Mitchell and Thompson added 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Tim Hardaway Jr. led the bench unit with 14 points on two converted 3-pointers.

Antetokounmpo and the Heat will aim to sustain their winning ways on Oct. 17 against the Orlando Magic, while the Nets seek to re-enter the preseason win column on Oct. 22 against the Charlotte Hornets.