Heat off to the races in high-octane 146-114 domination of Grizzlies

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Oct 24, 2025

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The expiration date of Miami Heat plans to play at pace typically is somewhere along the lines of the first week of the season.

Bully Ball-or-bust has been the touchstone for so long, anything else seems out of character.

And then came Friday night and Erik Spoelstra’s team was nothing short of a perpetual motion machine in what evolved into a resounding 146-114 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum, the third-highest-scoring game in the franchise’s 38 seasons.

There were 44 points in the first quarter.

Then 86 at halftime.

This wasn’t just shots falling at high clip, these were shots launched at rapid fire, off constant attacks in the paint.

Over and over and over, to the degree of a 39-point halftime lead.

Of the Heat’s bid to play at pace this season, Grizzlies coach Tuomas Lisalo said ahead of the game, “From what I gather, the Heat are looking to play this way this year.”

By the finish, the Heat had gathered plenty, including 24 points from Bam Adebayo, 20 from Nikola Jovic, 19 from Kel’el Ware, 17 from Jaime Jaquez Jr., 15 from Norman Powell, 14 from Simone Fontecchio, and plenty more in plenty of ways from others.

The Heat outscored the Grizzlies by 43 with Jaquez on the court, with Jaquez closing with 10 rebounds.

The victory, after an opening-night loss Wednesday to the Orlando Magic, evened the Heat record at 1-1 ahead of Sunday night’s home opener against the New York Knicks at Kaseya Center.

Five Degrees of Heat from Friday’s night’s game:

— 1. Off to races: The Heat led 44-25 after the first quarter, a period that saw them shoot 7 of 9 on 3-pointers, sparked by Adebayo’s 4 of 5.

And just kept going from there, up 86-47 at halftime.

The 86 points were the most in a half in the franchise’s 38 season. The previous record were three 82-point halves, one in a first half and two in a second half.

In addition, the 39-point halftime lead also was a franchise record. The previous record was a 34-point lead against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 29, 2024.

— 2. Going big: After taking an either/or approach with Adebayo and Ware in the opener, the two never on the court together on Wednesday night in Orlando, Spoelstra this time started both.

That had Jovic shifted to the second unit, where he thrived.

The opening lineup remained rounded out by Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell. Wiggins had seven rebounds, Mitchell seven assists.

— 3. Bam boom: Seemingly always up for his matchups against Jaren Jackson Jr., after Jackson received the initial call for USA Basketball’s NBA pipeline, Adebayo scored 15 of the Heat’s first 20 points.

That included a pair of early 3-pointers, the first extending Adebayo’s career-best streak of games with at least one to 14, dating to last season.

And kept going from there, reaching 4 of 4 on 3-pointers, to match his career-high total for a game, previously done April 11 of last season in New Orleans.

Adebayo’s 18 first-quarter points were one shy of his career high for any quarter, when he had 19 in the first quarter on Nov. 11, 2021 against the Clippers.

The showing came after Adebayo went scoreless in Wednesday night’s fourth quarter in Orlando.

— 4. Simply Simone: Spoelstra spoke before the game of having the assignment of preparing the Olympic scouting report on Italy for Team USA and his respect for Fontecchio.

“He was a stud over there for his national team, putting up big numbers and shouldering that weight you have when you’re the number-one option,” Spoelstra said. “For us, it’s a different option.

“We like his competitiveness. He, obviously, can really shoot the ball, but he’s not limited to that.”

That respect was rewarded with Fontecchio then converting his first four 3-point attempts Friday night, as part of a 5-of-5 first half from the field.

— 5. Last call: To put a ribbon on the domination, Spoelstra wound up emptying the last of his available bench when two-way player Jahmir Young made his Heat debut with 6:52 to play and the Heat up 131-90, after Keshad Johnson and Pelle Larsson had entered moments earlier.