Because they’ll face each other on opening night a week from Wednesday, neither the Magic nor the Heat revealed much of their plans during Sunday’s preseason game at Kia Center.
For Orlando, forward Paolo Banchero and guard Desmond Bane had the night off for rest after playing well into the third quarter of Friday’s exhibition victory at Philadelphia while guard Jalen Suggs (left knee trochlea cartilage tear) and big man Moe Wagner (left knee torn ACL surgery) remained out.
Meanwhile, Miami was without Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins and Norman Powell as well as Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier and Nikola Jovic on the first night of a back-to-back.
Nevertheless, the Magic handled their business on their homecourt with a 120-104 victory as they were led by forward Franz Wagner, who racked up 17 points in 16 minutes of first-half action.
“They did a pretty good job of doing the things that we asked them to do, the style of play,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said after the 16-point win. “There’s some small pieces that we’re going to have to continue to clean up: 20 turnovers for 27 points; putting them on the line 34 times is not what we want to do. So we’ve got to do a better job of defending without fouling.’
Orlando forward Franz Wagner (22) is fouled by Miami guard Pelle Larsson (9) during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando injured guard Jalen Suggs (middle) and others come off the bench to congratulate guard Anthony Black (0) after a play during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando center Goga Bitadze (35) shoots over Miami guard Ethan Thompson and Miami forward Precious Achiuwa (8) during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) pulls in a rebound during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Stuff the Magic mascot has fun with fans during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando guard Tyus Jones (2) defends as Miami guard Ethan Thompson (bottom) falls during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando center Wendell Carter Jr. slam dunks during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Injured Orlando guard Jalen Suggs dances for the camera before the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando forward Tristan da Silva (23) scores beside Miami guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando guard Anthony Black (0) leaps to defend during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley talks to center Wendell Carter Jr. during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel
Orlando forward Franz Wagner (22) pushes aside Miami guard Pelle Larsson (right) during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando forwards Jonathan Isaac (1) and Tristan da Silva (23) combine to stop Miami forward Keshad Johnson (16) during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando forward Franz Wagner (22) slam dunks over Miami guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (behind) during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando guard Tyus Jones (2) battles for position during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando forward Tristan da Silva (23) scores over Miami forward Myron Gardner (15) during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando center Goga Bitadze (middle) knocks away a shot by Miami forward Precious Achiuwa (8) during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando guard Tyus Jones (2) shoots a three-point shot beside Miami guard Jahmir Young (17) during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
A young Orlando fan cheers during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players huddle before the start of the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando guard Jase Richardson (11) tips in a shot during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley yells during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando center Goga Bitadze (bottom) fights for a loose ball under Miami forward Precious Achiuwa (8) during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) reaches for a rebound during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra yells during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando forward Franz Wagner (22) tries to drive past Miami guard Pelle Larsson (9) during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Dancers perform under a new gigantic big-screen television over the court during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
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Orlando forward Franz Wagner (22) is fouled by Miami guard Pelle Larsson (9) during the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic NBA preseason game at the Kia Center on Sunday, October 12, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
The Sunshine State foes fouled each other plenty throughout the night as the Magic shot 33 of 38 at the free throw line and Miami went 25 of 34.
Orlando will wrap up the preseason Thursday when it hosts the Pelicans. The Heat have a quick turnaround when they travel to Atlanta on Monday before closing out their preseason Friday at home vs. the Grizzlies.
Starting 5
Without Banchero, Bane and Suggs against Miami, the Magic opened with Tyus Jones, Tristan da Silva, Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr. and Jonathan Isaac.
Orlando pushed the pace early but failed to take care of the ball with 6 turnovers for 11 Miami points in the first quarter alone.
Carter provided a boost on offense when he hit his first pair of triples and posted 10 points in the opening frame. The 6-foot-10 center ended with 12 points and 4 rebounds in 14 minutes.
“Cleaning up the first quarter was probably the biggest thing,” Carter said. “We’ve been playing a lot faster offensively, which is what we’ve been preaching, and we’ve been fouling a lot too. That’s something we’ve also got to be better at, but we’re preaching we want to be a physical team so it kind of comes with it.”
Wagner had success attacking the basket regularly before the break and took advantage of his trips to the free throw line, where he sank all 10 of his attempts.
Da Silva helped crash the glass as the second-year pro grabbed 7 rebounds to go with 11 points in 16 minutes.
Second unit
The first five off the bench were Jett Howard, Noah Penda, Anthony Black, Goga Bitadze and Jase Richardson.
The first reserve in the game, Howard hit his first 3-pointer from the left wing and later converted an and-one when he was fouled on a transition layup. Howard, who ended with 11 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 19 minutes, picked up his fourth foul early in the third frame but added a second triple in the fourth.
Black initiated the offense at times for the second unit and totaled 9 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds in 19 minutes. His exclamation point came late in the third with a two-handed dunk.
Orlando’s bench outscored Miami’s 72-51.
Rookie watch
Penda entered much earlier in the game compared to Orlando’s first two preseason contests when he stepped onto court with about 5 minutes left in the first quarter.
The French forward slammed home a cut to the basket early in the third quarter and finished with 7 points and 5 rebounds in 23 minutes.
Richardson missed his first two shots from the floor during a relatively quiet opening half but didn’t waste time to make his mark on the game in the third quarter. The No. 25 pick hit back-to-back triples within the first minute of the second half before recording a steal as well.
“For me, just going into the second half with a new, clean state in my mind,” Richardson said about his play. “Just trying to erase everything that happened in the first half and move on from it. Coming out, trying to be as aggressive as I can, and then my teammates also having that trust in me.”
The Michigan State product ended with 13 points in 20 minutes.
Fresh flair
Fans attending Sunday’s game likely noticed Kia Center’s new jumbotron along with upgraded screens throughout the bowl and concourse.
Owned and operated by the city of Orlando, the arena now features a center-hung display that has more than 53 million pixels of resolution (the old board had 9 million, according to the team).
Complementing the jumbotron were four corner board LED displays and a new sound system.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Originally Published: October 12, 2025 at 8:37 PM EDT