Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo admitted the team are performing below expectations after a 128-111 defeat to the Detroit Pistons left them without a win at the start of the 2026-27 NBA season. The loss followed an opening defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Antetokounmpo scored 36 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in 33 minutes against Detroit, having contributed 35 points in the loss to Minnesota. The former Milwaukee Bucks forward joined Miami in an offseason trade, but the Heat’s other starters struggled against the Pistons.
Bam Adebayo scored four points, Klay Thompson added six and Andrew Wiggins managed eight. Miami have now lost their first two matches despite high expectations entering the campaign.
Antetokounmpo believes Miami’s difficult start could increase the team’s urgency and improve their performances once they trust one another.
“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.
