The struggling Heat were blown out by the Lakers on Monday, an ominous start to a five-game road trip. But Giannis Antetokounmpo hasn’t wavered in his belief the team can be a contender this season, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.

“Do I think we have the pieces? Yeah,” he said. “Do I think we got a lot of things to figure out? We have a lot. But I know what the Miami Heat culture is about. I know what the players in this locker room are about. I know what I’m about. And I know that once we get on the right track, we can make some noise.”

Bobby Portis, Giannis’ longtime teammate, echoed those words.

“Obviously, it started off slow, but it will peak at the right time throughout the season,” he said. “I just think it’s a process, an everyday process. Guys are just drilling things, getting familiar with how guys play. It’s a group. We’ve got six or seven new guys on the team. So we’re all just trying to figure it out at once.”

Here’s more from the Southeast Division:

• Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is giving Ryan Conwell a longer look on his second unit, Chiang notes. Conwell was the first guard used off the Heat’s bench against the Lakers. The rookie did not play in the first half of the Heat’s first six games prior to entering Monday night’s game midway through the first quarter. However, Spoelstra relied on Dru Smith instead of Conwell in the second half. “The second half, we went to the zone and Dru is one of our best guys in the zone,” Spoelstra said “But I thought Ryan gave us some good things in the first half.” Conwell, an early second-round pick, is on a three-year contract that includes a team option.
• It appears the Hornets’ Kon Knueppel will make his season debut against Brooklyn on Wednesday. Knueppel, who has been sidelined by a left hamstring strain, is listed as probable, the Hornets PR department tweets.  Knueppel, who finished second on the Rookie of the Year voting last season, suffered the injury during an offseason workout but has been making steady progress in recent weeks.
• The Magic have a 2-5 record as they head out on a four-game road trip. Jalen Suggs remains sidelined with a right knee bone bruise. He’s not even sure if he’ll travel with the team on its road swing, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel writes. “Obviously, there’s a little frustration,” Suggs said. “I’d love to be playing but I’m not complaining about (anything).”