The Atlanta Hawks traveled to south Florida to open the 2021 preseason in a matchup with the Miami Heat. A few big names were missing in this one, but basketball returned nonetheless. Clint Capela (Achilles), De’Andre Hunter (knee), Kevin Huerter (ankle) and Onyeka Okongwu (shoulder) were out for Atlanta, while Jimmy Butler and Victor Oladipo were out for Miami.
The Heat got out to a hot start, going on a 12-0 run at one point in the first, but the Hawks made a run of their own to level the score and trailed by just one at 33-32 heading into the second quarter.