MIAMI – As the Miami Heat continue to form their identity early in the 2026-27 season, the team ended up taking a massive step in the right direction with the 133-121 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night in NBA Cup group play. With the Heat's dynamic duo in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo showing what the ceiling could be like for this team, the two-time MVP would speak on where the team is at after the victory.

Both Antetokounmpo and Adebayo recorded 37 points, as the last time a Miami duo scored at least 35 points was LeBron James and Dwyane Wade on Feb. 26, 2012. Along with impressive outings from Davion Mitchell with 22 points and a whopping 17 assists, plus rookie Ryan Conwell scoring a career-high 20 points, Antetokounmpo emphasizes that “we're not even close” to reaching the level the Heat envision themselves to be.

“No, there's a lot of work to be done,” Antetokounmpo said to ClutchPoints. “We're not there yet; we're not even close. We have a lot of work, a lot of work.”

Asked Giannis if he feels the #Heat have reached their identity yet or if more work needs to be done:

“There’s a lot of work to be done. We're not there yet. We're not even close.” pic.twitter.com/G8oeyiA95q

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) November 14, 2026

Giannis Antetokounmpo says the Heat are “getting there”

Along with the 37 points, Antetokounmpo made 15 of his 20 shots from the field, going six of 11 from the free-throw line, to go along with nine rebounds and two assists. If the eye test of the Heat showed one thing, it's that the team is playing much more comfortably and in flow compared to the 0-4 start to the season, showing the progress the team is making, with Antetokounmpo impressed that the team persevered without Klay Thompson (ankle) and Pelle Larsson (illness).

“We're getting there,” Antetokounmpo said. “I think as the season goes on, we're gonna keep on getting better…We in a good place, we in a good groove, we just gotta stay locked in, stay humbled. Keep our heads down and just keep on doing our job quietly. That's all. Quietly. No noise. No attention needed. Just keep on doing our job. Just keep on trying to stack up wins.”

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It'll be a quick rest for Miami as the team looks for four straight wins as they host the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night.