The Miami Heat will open the 2024-25 regular season against the Orlando Magic on Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. EST inside Kaseya Center, the team announced Thursday afternoon.
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— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) August 15, 2024
Miami went 3-1 against the Magic last year, including a 121-95 victory on Feb. 6.
Against the Magic, Miami finished with a 112.8 offensive rating, 106.9 defensive rating (5.9 NET) and 57.3 true-shooting percentage. Over an 82-game season, those numbers would’ve ranked No. 21, No. 1 and No. 15, respectively.
Miami’s 5.9 NET Rating was the ninth-best NET Rating it had against any single opponent last year, according to NBA.com.
Orlando, who finished last season 47-35, sported the 22nd-best offense and the 3rd-best defense. Those marks were eerily similar to the Heat’s 21st-ranked offense and 5th-ranked defense. Its shooting was repulsive beyond the arc, finishing with the seventh-worst 3-point percentage, albeit with the third-fewest long-range attempts per 100 possessions.
The Magic got eliminated in the first round by the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games after taking a 3-2 series lead. Though they made notable upgrades this offseason by signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and drafting Tristan da Silva, who was one of my favorite prospects leading up to the 2024 NBA Draft.
The Heat has had countless opening night affairs with their in-state rival. This season will mark the 8th time over the last 10 years that both teams square off on opening night, with the Heat 1-3 in those games (which were all in Orlando).
Since taking over as head coach, Erik Spoelstra’s gone 10-6 on opening night.
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