ORLANDO, Fla. — Magic guard Jalen Suggs made his long-awaited return to the court to open the 2025-26 NBA season Wednesday night when Orlando hosted the Miami Heat inside a rowdy Kia Center.

Franz Wanger (24 points), Paolo Banchero (24) and Desmond Bane (23) combined to score 71 as the Magic outlasted their in-state rival, 125-121, to win their third consecutive opening night game.

In a contest that was tied 13 times and featured 10 lead changes, it was a pair of free throws with 6.1 seconds remaining from Wendell Carter Jr. (9 points) that put the game out of reach for Miami.

Wednesday’s game marked the eighth opening night matchup between the Sunshine State foes with the Magic improving to a 7-1 in those instances. Orlando also won two preseason games over Miami.

The Magic scored 25 points off 19 takeaways and the Heat 16 off 15. For Miami, six players ended in double-figure scoring, including offseason acquisition Norman Powell, who lead the team with 28 points.

With Game 1 of 82 under their belt, the Magic return to Kia Center when they host the Hawks on Friday.

Suggs’ return

Not only did Suggs make his way back to the court Wednesday, but he also started for Orlando alongside Banchero, Wagner, Carter and newcomer Bane.

Suggs found himself in foul trouble early as he picked up two fouls in the opening two minutes of the game.

Once he settled down, he looked much like his old self, even in restricted minutes, playing a physical style of defense and helping spread the floor on offense. Playing short two-three minute stints, he totaled 14 points with two assists and four rebounds in 17 minutes.

The highlight of his night came late in the fourth quarter when he recorded a steal and finished in transition to fire up the Kia Center crowd.

Rest of starters

Wagner attacked the basket in transition and helped push the pace as he sunk a pair of triples to post 19 points in the first half. He powered a 14-3 run at the end of the first quarter with a steal and his first 3 from the right wing.

Bane also came out firing from 3-point range, shooting 2 of 3 from distance to go to the break with 14 points, including 10 in the first frame, after a relatively quiet preseason. But he did much more than shoot from 3, portraying his ability to attack downhill and get to the free-throw line (4 of 4).

Banchero faced double teams throughout the night and he didn’t reach double digits until midway through the third quarter. The Magic forward got going on offense by forcing his way to the charity stripe, where he shot 9 of 12.

Carter, who pieced together a strong preseason, picked up his third foul with 3:01 left in the second quarter. He failed to make his impact on offense until he grabbed an offensive board and converted an and-one to put Orlando ahead by two with 3:49 left in the game.

Second unit

Tyus Jones, who started throughout the preseason in place of Suggs, was the first member of the Magic off the bench, but he struggled to find his footing on offense, going scoreless in the first half.

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley used a 10-man rotation with Jonathan Isaac, Anthony Black, Goga Bitadze and Tristan da Silva joining Jones off the bench.

After a successful summer with Germany at EuroBasket, da Silva continued to show growth on offense with eight points in nine first-half minutes. He added his second 3-pointer late in the third quarter and third triple early in the fourth, finishing with 16 points.

Bitadze was active on the glass on both ends of the floor with seven rebounds (2 offensive) while helping find opponents as he assisted on two of Orlando’s eight first-half 3-pointers.

Black added seven points, but Miami’s bench outscored Orlando’s 35-31.

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