After a week with a couple of ailments -- neck spasms and a sprained ankle -- Kel'el Ware was cleared to play in the Miami Heat's season opener in Orlando. But

This wasn’t just a win to start a season. It was the latest proof that the Magic’s patient rebuild – the years of development, the draft nights that required faith, the seasons of growth and frustration – is finally turning potential into production. And the opponent made it that much sweeter.

They fought the good fight, but in the end the Miami Heat did not have enough in their season-opening loss to the Orlando Magic.

The Miami Heat returned to the floor in Orlando on Wednesday night to kick off the 2025-2026 NBA season. The expected starters took the floor of Davion Mitchell, Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jovic,

Wednesday’s opening night game at Kia Center marked the eighth time the Magic and Heat have faced each other to open an NBA season.

Davion Mitchell broke out last season as a solid NBA player. On opening night of the new season, the Miami Heat guard made a case as a rising star. He was stellar in the Heat's opener against the Orlando Magic, putting up a stat line unlike any in the history of the Heat to open a season.

It was a two-ailment week for Kel'el Ware. The Miami Heat's second-year center, who led all NBA players in total points in the preseason as Erik Spoelstra tries