Heat begin new era with 108-96 win over Magic
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Center Hassan Whiteside had 18 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots, leading the Miami Heat to a 108-96 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night in a season opener at the Amway Center.
It was the sixth consecutive season-opening victory for Miami and their first victory without star guard Dwyane Wade, who left for the Chicago Bulls during the offseason.
The Heat, who have begun a rebuilding project this season, were balanced with six players scoring in double figures.
Forward Justise Winslow had 15 points and eight rebounds, followed by guard Goran Dragic with 16 points and five assists, reserve guard Tyler Johnson with 13 points and six rebounds, reserve forward James Johnson with 11 points and six assists, and reserve center Willie Reed with 10 points and six rebounds.
Magic guard Evan Fournier led all scorers with 20 points, but he made only 7 of 19 shots from the field. Center Nikola Vucevic had 17 points and 14 rebounds, followed by newly acquired Serge Ibaka with 14 points and seven rebounds, point guard Elfrid Payton with 14 points, and forward Aaron Gordon with 12 points and eight rebounds.
The Heat were never challenged seriously in the fourth quarter. The Magic never got closer than 10 points late in the game.
The Heat opened an 87-69 lead when they scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter, sparked by a 3-point play by Johnson. They led by as many as 19 points midway in the quarter.
The Heat dominated the third quarter, turning a three-point halftime deficit into a 80-69 lead going into the fourth quarter. Whiteside had eight points, five rebounds and two blocks in the third quarter.
Heat guard Dion Waiters was called for a technical foul early in the third quarter after he scored on a layup but complained about a foul call not being called. Whiteside received a technical a few possessions later after he was called for goaltending and complained about it.
The Magic led 53-50 at halftime, riding the early aggressive play of Payton, who had 12 points and made all eight of his free throws. Vucevic, who had nine points and eight rebounds before intermission, hit back-to-back baskets to close the first half.
The Heat outshot the Magic 45 percent to 39 percent in the first half but didn't get to the free throw line early. The Magic made 14 of 18 free throws in the first two quarters and the Heat managed just 3 of 6.
Magic guard D.J. Augustin hit two shots late in the first quarter to spark a 12-2 Magic run.
The Heat were led early by Winslow, who had nine points in the first half. Tyler Johnson, James Johnson and Whiteside had eight points before halftime.
NOTES: The Magic were without newly-acquired C Bismack Biyombo, who signed a four-year, $68 million contract this summer as a free agent. He was serving a one-game suspension for too many flagrant fouls in the playoffs last spring when he played with Toronto. ... The Magic, who rebuilt their roster in the offseason, opened with six international players, second most in the NBA behind the Utah Jazz, who have seven. ... The Heat crushed the Magic by 30 points earlier this month in an preseason game and had won 15 of their last 17 regular-season games against the Magic. The Heat came into the game having won their last five season openers. ... This is the first time in 14 years the Heat have opened a season without Dwyane Wade on the roster. Wade signed with Chicago this summer. ... The Heat were without G Wayne Ellington (bruised quadriceps), F Josh McRoberts (foot) and G Josh Richardson (knee). The Magic also were without G Jodie Meeks (foot). ... Before the game, the Magic raised a No. 49 banner in honor of the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting on June 12 in Orlando. It was the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. The banner had the name of each of the 49 victims who died.