Miami @ Orlando preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 7, 2017 ) Miami 90, Orlando 93

The Miami Heat won 30 of their last 41 games last season, but still missed the playoffs due to a brutal start and hope to avoid the same scenario this time around as they visit the Orlando Magic on Wednesday to open the campaign. The Heat bring back virtually the same lineup they ended 2016-17 with and will enjoy a six-game homestand after the brief road trip north to play the rebuilding Magic.

“Everybody wants to get off to a great start. That’s going to be one of our biggest things,” Miami guard Josh Richardson told the Sun-Sentinel. “We can’t dig ourselves a hole again this year. We dug ourselves a huge hole last year and we spent the whole second half trying to climb out of it.” Guard Goran Dragic and center Hassan Whiteside lead the way for the Heat as they take on Orlando, which disappointed last season after starting their journey with serious playoff asperations. The Magic return guard Evan Fournier and center Nikola Vucevic, while additions such as first-round pick Jonathan Isaac along with veterans Arron Afflalo, Shelvin Mack, Marreese Speights and Jonathon Simmons can help. “I feel better and better, honestly, about the competitiveness,” Orlando center Bismack Biyombo told the Orlando Sentinel. “The chemistry is much better as well. The spirits of the guys and the coaches are in the right place.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Miami), FSN Florida (Orlando)

ABOUT THE HEAT (2016-17: 41-41): Dragic averaged 20.3 points and 5.8 assists while Whiteside scored 17 and pulled down an NBA-best 14.1 rebounds per game a season ago to give the Heat a solid inside-outside threat. The key for Miami may be staying healthy as Dion Waiters (14.6 points) missed 36 games and Justise Winslow (10.9) was out for all but 18 contests in 2016-17. Kelly Olynyk, who averaged nine points with Boston last season, is the biggest addition and first-round pick Bam Adebayo could help inside down the road while Tyler Johnson (13.7 points) and Richardson (10.2) are key on the perimeter.

ABOUT THE MAGIC (2016-17: 29-53): Orlando did not get off to an awful start last season at 10-12, but never could find a consistent rhythm on both sides of the court and hope they learned lessons from it. Fournier, who is probable with an ankle injury, averaged 17.2 points in 2016-17 and Vucevic (14.6 points, 10.4 rebounds) is a consistent force inside and outside to build around. Terrence Ross added a spark after coming from Toronto in a trade-deadline deal, averaging 12.5 points, but has been hampered with a hamstring injury and may miss opener while point guard Elfrid Payton (12.8 points, 6.5 assists) has his moments.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Magic were last in the Eastern Conference in scoring (101.1) and field goal percentage (44.0) last season.

2. Miami SF Rodney McGruder will miss at least three months after surgery to correct a stress fracture in his left leg.

3. The Heat have won six straight season openers, including last year at Orlando, but the Magic won three of four meetings in 2016-17.

PREDICTION: Magic 104, Heat 100