ORLANDO, Fla. – Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner each scored 24 points, and Desmond Bane added 23 in his Orlando debut as the Magic edged the Miami Heat 125-121 on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.
Miami led by seven points midway through the fourth quarter but went cold down the stretch, failing to make a field goal for more than four minutes as Orlando rallied to take control.
What we know:
Magic guard Jalen Suggs, returning from injury, finished with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting.
Orlando Magic open season with high expectations
Downtown Orlando is buzzing on Wednesday night as the Magic open their season at the Kia Center against the Miami Heat. For the first time in years, Orlando enters the season with a lot of buzz.
His late defensive plays and clutch shooting helped swing the momentum. Suggs’ short jumper with 58.7 seconds left gave the Magic the lead for good, and Wendell Carter Jr. sealed the win with two free throws in the final seconds.
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Norman Powell led Miami with 28 points, while Bam Adebayo posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Andrew Wiggins added 18 points, and Davion Mitchell had 16 points and 12 assists.
The backstory:
The matchup marked the 143rd regular-season meeting between the Magic and Heat — Florida’s long-standing intrastate rivalry. Miami’s 39-38 lead after the first quarter was the highest-scoring opening period in the series’ history.
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The game also served as a debut for Desmond Bane, who joined Orlando this offseason on a five-year deal. He made an immediate impact, hitting his first two 3-point shots and going 3-for-7 from deep overall.
For the Heat, the season opener came without Tyler Herro, last year’s leading scorer, who remains sidelined following ankle surgery in September.
What’s next:
Both teams are set to continue early-season play Friday — the Heat visiting Memphis and the Magic hosting Atlanta.
The Source: This story was written based on reporting by the Associated Press.