Mateo's Hoop Diary: Heat Lose Season Opener in Orlando
The Heat suffered a narrow loss in their season opener against the Magic in Orlando, with the two teams meeting for the 10th time on opening night.
One of the key issues for the Heat was their inability to stop the Magic from getting to the free throw line, particularly in the fourth quarter, where they attempted 14 free throws and made 13.
Norman Powell made a strong impression on his debut with the Heat, providing much-needed firepower and setting up teammates such as Bam Adebayo and Davion Mitchell for scoring opportunities.
The Magic's Desmond Bane also had a strong first stint with the team, scoring jumpers and layups to keep his team in the game.
Despite building a 12-point lead at one point, the Heat were unable to maintain their advantage, with the Magic raising their intensity to cut the deficit to just one point by the end of the first quarter.
No direct quotes available in the text.
Author's summary: Heat lose season opener to Magic despite strong debut from Norman Powell.