The Heat look to improve to a 3-0 all-time record in games played in Mexico.
The Miami Heat and Washington Wizards meet tonight in the NBA Mexico City Game 2024 (9:30 ET, NBA TV) from Arena CDMX in Mexico’s capital city.
Here are five things to know ahead of tipoff:
1. A familiar global destination: Tonight’s game marks the 33rd game played in Mexico – the most in any country outside the U.S. and Canada. Since 1992, the NBA has played 19 preseason games in Mexico.
Tonight will be the 14th regular-season game played in Mexico and the first of three regular-season global games this season, with the Spurs and Pacers playing two games in Paris in January 2025.
#NBAenMéxico hoops tonight! 🇲🇽
Don’t miss the Heat take on the Wizards at Arena CDMX in Mexico City at 9:30pm/et on NBA TV. pic.twitter.com/ylfT30XB1K
— NBA (@NBA) November 2, 2024
2. Día de los Muertos celebration: The teams’ arrival in Mexico coincides with traditional Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations locally. The Dia de los Muertos theme will be showcased as part of a variety of in-arena activations during the game, including a themed basketball court.
“Bringing the Heat and the Wizards to Mexico City next season in conjunction with ‘Día de los Muertos’ will mark another special milestone in the NBA’s long history in Mexico,” said Raul Zarraga, NBA Mexico Senior Vice President and Managing Director. “The game and surrounding events will serve as the ultimate celebration of the NBA for fans in Mexico and across Latin America at a time when the momentum around basketball in the region is at an all-time high.”
3. Been here before: The Heat and Wizards both have a history of playing in Mexico. The Wizards played during the preseason era of NBA games south of the border with two games in 1995 and another in 2000 – but they are still in search of their first win in Mexico.
On the other hand, the Heat look to improve to 3-0 in Mexico, with all of their games counting as regular-season games – a win over the Nets in 2017 and another over the Spurs in 2022 in the NBA’s first regular-season game outside the United States and Canada following the COVID-19 pandemic
4. Both teams feature global talent: The Wizards and Heat helped the NBA tie the record for most international players on opening day rosters this season with 125.
Washington features a pair of French top 10 picks from the past two NBA Drafts in Alex Sarr (No. 2 in 2024) and Bilal Coulibaly (No. 7 in 2023) as well as Jonas Valančiūnas (Lithuania), Kyshawn George (Switzerland) and Tristan Vukčević (Serbia).
Miami features Nikola Jović of Serbia and Pelle Larsson of Sweden along with two American-born players with ties to other countries in Bam Adebayo (Nigeria) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Mexico).
Jaquez Jr. – whose father’s family is from Guadalajara – competed for Mexico at the 2019 Pan American Games and is ready to play his first NBA game in the country.
“It’s going to be exciting … We’re ready to go down and put on a great show, help grow the game of basketball as best as we can,” Jaquez Jr. said. “I know it speaks loud to people knowing that I have Mexican heritage and to be able to play down there in front of all those fans … it’s going to be inspiring.”
5. Both teams 2-2 entering the game: In addition to helping grow the game globally, this game counts toward the regular season as both teams are looking to get over .500 with a win in their fifth game of the season
While Washington has a three-game losing streak in Mexico, they have won two straight games entering tonight’s game with the Heat. Leading the way is Jordan Poole, who is averaging a team-high 22.5 points per game while ranking second in the NBA in 3-pointers made per game (5.0) and first in 3-point percentage (57.1) among high-volume shooters that attempt at least seven 3-pointers per game.
Meanwhile, Miami is looking to get back on track after a 116-107 loss to New York on Wednesday that saw the Heat surrender a 13-point second-half lead. Tyler Herro (22.3 ppg) and Terry Rozier (18.5) are the Heat’s top two scorers entering the game, while multi-time All-Stars Jimmy Butler (16.8) and Adebayo (11.0) have gotten off to slow starts to open the season.
Will the Heat win their third straight game in Mexico? Or will the Wizards get their first win in Mexico and their first three-game win streak of the season? Find out tonight on NBA TV.
