Miami showed its preseason puzzle again in Atlanta as Erik Spoelstra mixed lineups with Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware sharing the floor for just 8:03 amid a knee contusion scare. Adebayo left after a second-half contusion scare but said he felt fine, while Ware produced 6 points and 11 rebounds. The Heat shot poorly from deep (5 of 34) and leaned on Norman Powell, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Ethan Thompson for 17-point bursts off the bench. The exhibition highlighted rotation questions ahead of opening night.

As the Heat chase consistency, Spoelstra tinkered with nine-man rotations, rested Jovic, and used the game to evaluate Jaquez, Larsson and Fontecchio alongside Ware in a possible hybrid frontcourt. With two more tune-ups and a charity intrasquad on Wednesday, Miami heads toward a heavy-opening schedule (Orlando Oct. 22, Knicks Oct. 26) while weighing internal development against established roles.

Celebrity energy floods the Phoenix Mercury vs Las Vegas Aces Finals Game 4 at the Mortgage Matchup Center. The purple-clad crowd fills the arena with Mercury vs Everybody shirts as Phoenix fights to avoid the franchise's first Finals sweep.

Bam Adebayo came to root for his girlfriend A'ja Wilson of the Aces, signaling cross-league buzz around Wilson's bid for a third title in four years. Floyd Mayweather and Raiders-Aces owner Mark Davis were courtside, while Phoenix mayor Kate Gallego sat near the Aces bench, amplifying the event's star wattage.