Heat finally in win column on record night for Adebayo in Atlanta

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun Sentinel on Oct 28, 2026

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ATLANTA — The start of something big when it comes to the Miami Heat’s Giannis Antetokounmpo era? For now, just a start.

Finally breaking into the win column after an 0-4 opening week in the wake of their offseason superstar addition, the Miami Heat did it on a record-setting night.

With Bam Adebayo setting the Heat’s career rebounding record along the way, Erik Spoelstra’s team pushed past the Atlanta Hawks, 129-117, Wednesday night at State Farm Arena.

Overcoming early Antetokounmpo foul trouble, the Heat fought off the Hawks behind 24 points and nine rebounds from Adebayo, 24 points and a season-high 18 rebounds from Antetokounmpo, 18 points from Andrew Wiggins and 17 from Pelle Larsson.

As has been the case over the opening eight days of the season, it wasn’t easy, with an 18-point third-quarter lead down to four midway through the fourth.

But this time, the Heat said enough was enough, getting solid bench support, with 14 points from Tim Hardaway Jr. and 11 from Bobby Portis Jr.

Five Degrees of Heat from Wednesday night’s game:

— 1. Record moment: With his seventh rebound, Adebayo passed Udonis Haslem for the franchise’s all-time rebound lead.

The Heat’s record book now has Adebayo atop that leader board, followed by Haslem (5,791), Alonzo Mourning (4,807) and Rony Seikaly (4,544).

Adebayo tied Haslem's record with his sixth rebound, an offensive rebound off an errant Portis 3-point attempt with 4:32 to play in the third quarter.

The record-setting rebound came with 2:21 to play on a carom off a miss by the Hawks’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

— 2. Game flow: The Heat, with their best start of the season, led 34-25 after the opening period.

They then pushed their lead to 13 in the second period, their largest lead of the season to that stage, taking a 69-56 lead into the intermission off a 41-foot heave by Nikola Jovic that beat the halftime buzzer.

From there, they pushed their lead to 18 late in the third quarter, before going into the fourth up 97-85.

Later, the Hawks drew within 111-107 with 6:21 to play.

Davion Mitchell then helped restore order with a score, a steal and an assist, with the Heat shortly thereafter going up 11.

— 3. Foul start: For the third time in their five games, the Heat had to deal with early foul trouble in their power rotation.

This time it was Antetokounmpo called for his second foul just 3:44 into the game, replaced at that juncture by Portis.

In the season’s second game, the home loss to the Detroit Pistons, it was Adebayo forced to the bench with two early fouls.

The following night, it was Antetokounmpo fouling out in the road loss to the Charlotte Hornets.

Amid the 0-4 start to the season, Spoelstra this time reinserted Antetokounmpo with 2:31 remaining in the opening period, even with those two fouls.

— 4. Adebayo time: With Antetokounmpo limited by those fouls, Adebayo found himself with early offensive freedom, closing the opening period with nine points on 4-of-5 shooting.

That already had him eclipsing the eight points he had in Monday night’s home loss to the Dallas Mavericks, after scoring only four in the Detroit game.

Adebayo was up to a team-high 13 points at halftime and up to a season-high 22 by the end of the third quarter.

— 5. Milestone moment: Antetokounmpo’s steal early in the second period that led to a Hardaway transition layup was the 1,000th of his career.

That made him the 12th player in league history with 1,000 steals, 1,000 blocked shots and at least 21,000 career points.

He became the third active player with such a trifecta, joining LeBron James and Kevin Durant. The other nine who have completed their career are all Hall of Famers.