On October 7th , the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Miami Heat 103-93 in a preseason game. Giannis Antetokounmpo did not play, and several starters from both teams only played half the game, but the bench players performed well.

The early stages of the game were evenly matched, with Kuzma and AJ Green hitting long-range shots, and Turner also opening with a mid-range shot. Heat newcomer Powell quickly hit the ground running, scoring six points in the quarter. Late in the first quarter, the Bucks, with Cole Anthony and Ryan Rollins substituted for aggressive defense , helped the Bucks take a 30-23 lead .

In the second quarter, the Bucks' offense stalled, relying solely on Gary Trent 's three-pointers and free throws . Anthony and Rollins, while active on defense, were still somewhat raw on offense. The Heat capitalized on their momentum, with Powell and Jovic scoring consecutively. By halftime, the Bucks' lead was only 51-49 .

The second half saw a deeper rotation, with Rollins becoming the Bucks' primary offensive force, scoring on consecutive drives and long-range shots. Despite numerous turnovers on both sides, Nance's three-pointer late in the third quarter brought the lead to 68-71 . In the clutch, Chris Livingston hit two jumpers, and with Bouyea controlling the tempo, the Bucks went on a 10-2 run to seal the victory.