Tim Hardaway scored 14 points to lead the Miami Heat to a 129-105 preseason victory against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday, marking the first NBA game ever played in Québec City in front of a sellout crowd of 18,474 fans at the Centre Vidéotron.
Heat Control the Pace Early at Centre Vidéotron
Miami established control early in the exhibition matchup north of the border. By the end of the opening quarter, the Heat had built a commanding 29-14 advantage over Toronto. During that early stretch, the Raptors struggled from beyond the arc, going 0-for-5 on three-point attempts, while Miami converted five of its first 10 long-range shots.
Pelle Larsson added 13 points for the Heat, and Andrew Wiggins contributed 12 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with nine points in front of the capacity Québec crowd. On the other side, RJ Barrett and Tyreke Key led the Raptors with 15 points apiece, while Scottie Barnes chipped in 11 points.
Raptors Rest Kawhi Leonard Amid Major League Penalties
Toronto played without Kawhi Leonard, who was left on the sidelines for the contest. Leonard is also expected to sit out next Saturday when the Raptors travel to face the Los Angeles Clippers in Vancouver.
Leonard’s return to Toronto was finalized on September 23 following a major NBA investigation into the Clippers regarding salary cap circumvention. While the league chose not to suspend Leonard, officials handed down severe penalties to the Clippers, stripping the franchise of five first-round draft picks spanning from 2029 to 2033 alongside a $30 million fine.
League investigators determined that Leonard violated rules by securing off-court compensation through the Clippers and failing to reimburse personal expenses covered by the club. Consequently, Leonard was ordered to pay a $700,000 fine to the league. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and president of business operations Gillian Zucker received one-year suspensions, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was suspended for six months, and Leonard's uncle and former agent, Dennis Robertson, was barred from any business dealings with NBA teams and their affiliates for five years.
NBA Preseason Grows in Canada as Arena Returns to Hockey
Saturday’s matchup represented the 21st NBA preseason game played in Canada since 2012. Montreal has hosted eight of those contests, most recently in 2024, followed by Vancouver with seven. The league has also staged games in Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa.
Following the final buzzer, the Centre Vidéotron wasted little time shifting back to its primary athletic tenant. The venue’s ice crew prepared the facility to resume its hockey schedule on Sunday afternoon, when the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada face the Québec Remparts starting at 4:00 p.m.
Raptors Face Clippers Before Opening Season Against Bulls
Toronto continues its exhibition schedule next Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers in Vancouver. The Raptors will then open their regular season campaign on October 21 at home against the Chicago Bulls.
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