The Orlando Magic had an impressive season opener as they defeated the Miami Heat 116-97 at Kaseya Center. Paolo Banchero led the way for the Magic with 33 points and 11 rebounds, while Franz Wagner contributed 23 points to the victory. Gary Harris also had a strong performance, scoring 18 points, all from 3-pointers. The Magic excelled from beyond the arc, making 18 of 49 attempts.
On the other hand, the Miami Heat struggled to keep up with the Magic’s offensive firepower. Terry Rozier led the Heat with 19 points, followed by Nikola Jovic with 15 points and Tyler Herro with 14 points. However, Jimmy Butler had a tough night, shooting 1 for 8 from the field and scoring only three points.
The key moment of the game came in the third quarter when the Magic outscored the Heat by 21 points, dominating the period with a score of 39-18. This impressive performance in the third quarter helped the Magic secure a comfortable lead and ultimately the win.
Paolo Banchero’s 33-point effort marked the sixth time in Magic history that a player scored at least 30 points in a season opener. He now ranks third on the list behind Nick Anderson and Shaquille O’Neal, who both scored 42 points in their respective season openers.
Looking ahead, the Orlando Magic will play their home opener against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night, while the Miami Heat will face off against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest NBA news by subscribing to our newsletter for exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
