Paolo Banchero recorded 33 points, making it the first time since Tracy McGrady in 2002 that a Magic player scored 30-plus on opening night, Gary Harris made six of Orlando’s 18 3-pointers, and the Magic’s defense following an elongated halftime was smothering in Wednesday’s 116-97 victory over the Miami Heat at the Kaseya Center.

Paolo Banchero scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Franz Wagner scored 23 and the Orlando Magic rolled past the Miami Heat 116-97 in the opener for both teams.

The Magic backed up the offseason talk with an opening night 19-point victory, when they led by as many as 32 points behind Banchero’s game-high 33. Although the Magic still have 81 games left in their quest to return to the playoffs, the way they won sends a message to the East.