Heat host Hawks, Hornets, Wizards

MIAMI— This is not the type of ticket sale theMiami Heat had been planning for this stage of the calendar, but the team announced Thursday that tickets for the team’s three 2017 preseason games will go on sale Friday at its online outlets.

With the NBA reducing to a six-game preseason schedule from the eight the Heathave previously played before most seasons, as part of an earlier start date to the regular season, theHeat announced exhibitions at AmericanAirlines Arena on Oct. 1 against the Atlanta Hawks, Oct. 9 against the Charlotte Hornets and Oct. 11 against the Washington Wizards.

That scheduling will have theHeat facing each of those teams five times next season, including the four regular-season games with the Southeast division rivals.

The Heat’s three road preseason games will be announced at a later date.

Individual game tickets for the three exhibitions will go on sale at noon Friday at heat.com or Ticketmaster. with sales at AmericanAirlines Arena for the games beginning Monday at 10 a.m.

Ticket prices start plus applicable fees.

As the Heat announced at the end of their season, the team will go to mobileentry admission going forward, requiring the use of a smartphone.

The 2017-18NBA regularseason schedule is expected to be announced in late July or early August, with two additional weeks added to the schedule reduce the numberof games scheduled on consecutive nights. at $10

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