Magic beat Heat, win first opener in five years
The Sports Xchange
Oct 18, 2017
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Evan Fournier scored 23 points, including seven in the last two minutes, to lead the Orlando Magic to a 116-109 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
It was the first time since 2012 the Magic won their season opener. They never trailed in the second half, although the Heat closed within three points in the closing minutes.
The Magic rode a well-balanced attack with six players scoring at least 12 points. Nikola Vucevic had 19 points and 13 rebounds. Terrence Ross had 15 points. Aaron Gordon scored 14, and Elfrid Payton had 13 points and nine assists. Jonathon Simmons added 12 points off the bench.
Heat center Hassan Whiteside posted game highs with 26 points and 22 rebounds. He scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to lead a comeback that fell short at the end.
After trailing by as many as 17 points early in the quarter, the Heat closed within 108-105 when Whiteside scored with 2:01 remaining. Fournier took over from there.
The Magic held a 51-44 rebounding edge and a 11-2 advantage in fast-break points.
Orlando led 88-78 going into the fourth quarter, then was up by 17 points early in the fourth when rookie Jonathan Isaac scored on a short jumper.
The Magic scored the first seven points of the second half, capping the run with a 3-pointer by Fournier. They led by as many as 15 points in the third quarter.
The Magic led 58-55 at intermission, riding a well-balanced start with five players scoring between seven and 11 points. Gordon had 11 points and six rebounds in the first two quarters. Vucevic had nine points and eight rebounds.
The Heat led 37-32 after the first quarter, but they managed just 18 points in a cold-shooting second quarter. Whiteside had eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds by halftime.
Each team led by as many as seven points in the first half.
NOTES: The Heat and the Magic opened the season with rosters that were very similar to the ones they ended with last season. The Heat (41-41) returned 11 players from last season. The Magic, despite winning just 29 games, opened with nine returning players, including the same starting lineup. "We have continuity," Heat guard Josh Richardson said. ... The Magic tried until Monday but failed to reach contract extensions with fourth-year players Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon. Both now will become restricted free agents this summer. ... Heat rookie G Matt Williams made his NBA debut Wednesday in his hometown, where he played at Jones High School and then at the University of Central Florida. ... The two teams opened last season in Orlando, with the Heat winning by 12 points.
Oct 18, 2017
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Evan Fournier scored 23 points, including seven in the last two minutes, to lead the Orlando Magic to a 116-109 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
It was the first time since 2012 the Magic won their season opener. They never trailed in the second half, although the Heat closed within three points in the closing minutes.
The Magic rode a well-balanced attack with six players scoring at least 12 points. Nikola Vucevic had 19 points and 13 rebounds. Terrence Ross had 15 points. Aaron Gordon scored 14, and Elfrid Payton had 13 points and nine assists. Jonathon Simmons added 12 points off the bench.
Heat center Hassan Whiteside posted game highs with 26 points and 22 rebounds. He scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to lead a comeback that fell short at the end.
After trailing by as many as 17 points early in the quarter, the Heat closed within 108-105 when Whiteside scored with 2:01 remaining. Fournier took over from there.
The Magic held a 51-44 rebounding edge and a 11-2 advantage in fast-break points.
Orlando led 88-78 going into the fourth quarter, then was up by 17 points early in the fourth when rookie Jonathan Isaac scored on a short jumper.
The Magic scored the first seven points of the second half, capping the run with a 3-pointer by Fournier. They led by as many as 15 points in the third quarter.
The Magic led 58-55 at intermission, riding a well-balanced start with five players scoring between seven and 11 points. Gordon had 11 points and six rebounds in the first two quarters. Vucevic had nine points and eight rebounds.
The Heat led 37-32 after the first quarter, but they managed just 18 points in a cold-shooting second quarter. Whiteside had eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds by halftime.
Each team led by as many as seven points in the first half.
NOTES: The Heat and the Magic opened the season with rosters that were very similar to the ones they ended with last season. The Heat (41-41) returned 11 players from last season. The Magic, despite winning just 29 games, opened with nine returning players, including the same starting lineup. "We have continuity," Heat guard Josh Richardson said. ... The Magic tried until Monday but failed to reach contract extensions with fourth-year players Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon. Both now will become restricted free agents this summer. ... Heat rookie G Matt Williams made his NBA debut Wednesday in his hometown, where he played at Jones High School and then at the University of Central Florida. ... The two teams opened last season in Orlando, with the Heat winning by 12 points.
