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 when 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.
Both sides turned each other plenty with the Magic scoring 25 points off 19 takeaways and the Heat 16 off 15. For Miami, six different players ended with double figures, including offseason acquisition Norman Powell (who lead the team with 28 points).
With Game 1 of 82 under their belt, 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, Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr. and newcomer Bane.
Suggs found himself in foul trouble early when 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 2-3 minute stints, he totaled 14 points with 2 assists and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes.
The highlight of his night came late in the fourth 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 when he sunk a pair of triples to post 19 points in the first half. He powered a 14-3 at the end of the first quarter a steal and his first 3 from the right wing.
Bane also came out firing from 3-point range when he shot 2 for 3 from distance to got to the break with 14 points, including 10 in the first frame, after a relatively quiet preseason. But he did much more than just shoot from 3, portraying his ability to attack downhill and get to the free throw line (4 of 4 there).
Banchero faced Miami 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 3rd foul with 3:01 left in the 2nd 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 2 with 3:49 left in the game.
Second unit
Tyus Jones, who started throughout the preseason in place Suggs, was first member of the Magic off the bench, but struggled to find his footing on offense with a scoreless first half.
Mosley used a 10-man rotation with Jonathan Isaac, Anthony Black, Goga Bitadze and Tristan da Silva joining Jones off the bench. One of Bane, Banchero or Wagner were on the floor with some reserves at times.
After a successful summer with Germany at EuroBasket, da Silva continued to show growth on offense with 8 points in 9 first-half minutes. He added his second 3 late in the third quarter and third triple early in the fourth to end with 16 points.
Bitadze was active on the glass on both ends of the floor with 7 rebounds (2 offensive) while helping find opponents when he assisted on 2 of Orlando’s 8 first-half 3-pointers.
Black hit first 3 to add 7 points, but Miami’s bench outscored Orlando’s 35-31.
New PA announcer
Earlier Wednesday, the Magic named Jarryd Tribble as the next public-address announcer at Kia Center, a role previously held the entire history of franchise by Paul Porter.
Tribble, who most recently served as the PA announcer for the men’s basketball program at Ohio State University, auditioned for the position during Orlando’s preseason opener.
A native of Ohio, Tribble, 40, carried on the Magic tradition of telling fans to “Stand and Cheer” entering the fourth quarter of home games.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com