The Miami Heat suffered a disappointing loss to the Orlando Magic on the night they were honoring Pat Riley by naming the court after him at Kaseya Center. This was a particularly emotional and significant evening as the Heat celebrated Riley’s legendary contributions to the franchise, which included 30 years of leadership, three championships, and countless iconic moments.
Despite the build-up, the game itself didn’t go as planned, with the Heat falling 136-130 in a thrilling double-overtime loss. Players were clearly frustrated, especially given the high stakes of the night. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo expressed disappointment, acknowledging they didn’t perform to the level that such a special occasion deserved. The team’s goal was to win the opener and celebrate Riley’s achievements with a victory, but they were unable to close out the game.
It marked a rough start to the Heat’s season, especially after a first-round playoff exit last year. Pat Riley himself, while honored, has emphasized the need for the team to continue building a championship-caliber roster, and the loss only fueled the urgency for improvement
It wasn’t the start to the 2024-25 season Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat were hoping for as their in-state rival, the Orlando Magic, dominated them throughout, securing a 116-97 win at Kaseya Center. Butler, the former Marquette Golden Eagles star, had arguably the worst performance out of anyone on the court. The six-time NBA All-Star tallied only three points on a measly 1-of-8 shooting, four rebounds and five assists. Both Butler and center Bam Adebayo finished with the worst plus/minus in the game at -30.
Magic forward Paolo Banchero looked like the best player during the blowout win, scoring a game-high 33 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. During his time in Miami, Butler has become notorious for having mediocre regular seasons, then turning it up when the NBA playoffs come around after just squeaking into the postseason.
