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2026-27 · Regular season
Erik Spoelstra starts Pelle Larsson over Andrew Wiggins: ‘I really feel for Wigs,’ and Giannis answers Doc Rivers
Erik Spoelstra started Pelle Larsson over Andrew Wiggins in the Heat’s win at Sacramento, Doug Christie said the Kings would live with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s mid-range jumpers, and Antetokounmpo responded to Doc Rivers.
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Erik Spoelstra shook up his starting lineup on Sunday night in Sacramento, and he did it at the expense of a veteran he clearly likes. Pelle Larsson made his first start of the season in place of Andrew Wiggins, the Miami Heat beat the Kings 114-108, and Spoelstra made it plain afterward that more changes are possible.
“These are tough decisions,” Spoelstra said. “I really feel for Wigs on this. Pelle is giving us that ability to be a connector and also consistent energy and toughness that we think can complement that group.”
Wiggins had scored 12 points on 4-of-18 shooting over his previous three starts. Spoelstra said Wiggins “was good in the second unit tonight” and framed the switch as part of a wider search. “We’re at a point right now, it’s all hands on deck,” he said, “and however we can work this entire rotation to be a positive, like keep on stacking up positives on the scoreboard, that’s what I’m looking for right now.”
Foul trouble, then a rookie in the closing group
The new lineup did not get a clean look. Larsson picked up two fouls in the first quarter and Wiggins came in early. Larsson still finished with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, 3-of-4 from three, in 22 minutes, before fouling out late in the fourth with six fouls. Wiggins ended up playing 32 minutes off the bench, scoring 6 points on 2-of-6 shooting with a minus-6.
When Larsson fouled out, Spoelstra went to second-round rookie Ryan Conwell, not Wiggins, and closed with Conwell, Davion Mitchell, Klay Thompson, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Conwell had 6 points and was plus-10 in 19 minutes. Tim Hardaway Jr. played seven minutes and went 0-of-3.
Miami needed the help. The Heat led 91-76 with three minutes left in the third quarter before Sacramento ran off a 19-4 burst to tie it 95-95 with 6:12 to play. Antetokounmpo answered with three pull-up jumpers over the final 4:08 and finished with 29 points and 14 rebounds. Thompson made 7 of 13 threes for 23 points, and Mitchell had 17 points and 11 assists in 40 minutes. Miami is 4-6.
Christie: ‘We’re living with that’
Kings coach Doug Christie said his team got the shots it wanted from Antetokounmpo down the stretch, even though they went in. “Shot profile was Giannis shooting a mid-range contested shot,” Christie said. “We’re living with that. Tonight, he knocked them down. I’ll watch him next game and he probably won’t.”
Antetokounmpo went 14-of-23 from the field but only 1-of-7 at the line. Darius Acuff Jr. scored 32 with 10 assists for Sacramento, which fell to 1-9 and 0-5 at home.
Giannis on Doc Rivers: ‘My coach is Coach Spo’
After the game, Antetokounmpo was asked about his former Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who said on a podcast last week that Antetokounmpo was not easy to coach. Antetokounmpo appeared not to have heard them. “Oh my God. First of all, it’s not my coach. My coach is Coach Spo,” he said. “I’m speechless.”
“You gotta go ask him, you know, why he thought that,” Antetokounmpo said. “That’s on him. That’s not on me. I just gotta focus on my team and, you know, what I gotta do and how I can be better and how I can help the team.” He added: “Never let bitterness or pettiness get in front of your goals and dream. For every athlete out there, never let that.”
Spoelstra had already been asked about Rivers’ remarks before the game and steered the answer straight to his own team’s defense. “I like Doc and I respect him. This is our business now,” he said. “We’re going through a process of trying to develop a defense that’s meeting our potential and we’re not right now.”
He said the Heat are “making some progress” but not “fast enough,” and not “with enough collective urgency and toughness,” while the offense around Antetokounmpo is further along. “Playing with somebody that commands so much attention, that’s a different style than some of the guys that have come here,” Spoelstra said. “Our games are being won or lost defensively first while we’re getting more connected offensively.”
The Heat visit the Utah Jazz on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET (4 a.m. Wednesday Cairo time). The Kings host the Orlando Magic the same night at 10 p.m. ET (5 a.m. Wednesday Cairo time).
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