The Orlando Magic and Miami Heat are heading into the 2026-27 season with a fresh look, and Friday’s preseason meeting in Orlando will be the only time fans see them face off until February.
That first regular-season showdown won’t come until the teams meet for the first of four games later in the year, but there’s already plenty to sort through after a busy summer on Miami’s side and a quieter one in Orlando. The Heat made the loudest move of the offseason, landing Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. in a blockbuster trade.
They also brought in Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. The Magic, meanwhile, didn’t make any especially notable roster changes, but they did bring in Sean Sweeney as their new head coach.
Last season, Orlando had the upper hand in a big way. The Magic swept the Heat 5-0 in the regular season and also beat them twice in the preseason. But that history comes with a major asterisk now, because Miami is not the same group it was a year ago.
On the latest episode of the Full Court Magic Podcast, the season series came up in a conversation with Heat Roundtable beat writer Anthony Aguirre, who picked Miami to win it 3-1.
My response was more cautious:
"Yeah, I mean, I can see why you would think that, given the offseason and, you know, the star power on the team. And in a way, I agree with you. I think that if the Heat stay healthy, this is going to be a lot more difficult for the Magic.
I think because it's so contingent on so many different things, I'm going to go right down the middle. I'm going to go two-and-two split. I think that if the Magic are, you know, in the midst of a heater, or if they happen to be healthy while the Heat are banged up a little bit and they catch a night where there's no Giannis, they're probably going to win that game.
But conversely, if the Heat catch a night where there's no Paolo and Franz, they're probably going to win that game. I mean, I've seen Desmond Bane take over, but can he take over against the size Miami has? I do think that having Desmond Bane is a good safety valve for this Magic team that is going up against anyone, not just the Heat.
But I really do think that the story of this is going to come down to health. But also, I think what makes this matchup this season interesting is that, you know, Spo got used to Jamahl Mosley - he got to face him for five years.
He knew his coaching tendencies. He knew how to play chess against him.
Or at least you thought he did until Miami went 0-7 last year. So, I think that given all the hypotheticals, given all the different things that can happen, the best-case scenario for this is going to be a two-and-two split."
For now, the question of which team is better remains open. Friday’s preseason game will offer one more glimpse before the rivalry takes a long pause.
In Other News...
Magic Face Two Big Questions After Preseason Finale
A preseason win over the Miami Heat gave Orlando one last chance to sort through its roster before opening night, and the evaluation period quickly turned into a decision-making stretch. With the regular season set to begin against the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 21, the Magic have already moved to trim the group, waiving Malaki Branham, JD Davison and Kevin Knox II as part of the final roster cuts.
The bigger concern now is health, after Franz Wagner, Jase Richardson and Noah Penda all left the game with different injury issues. Orlando still has time to settle things before the games start to count, but the final tune-up also underscored how much of the early-season picture depends on getting the rotation intact in the next few days. [Read more 🡒]
Magic's New Offense Is Clicking Just In Time For Real Test
The Magics preseason ended on a much cleaner offensive note, the kind of sign that can matter when a team is trying to define itself under a new coach. Orlando moved the ball better, spaced the floor more naturally and got a big night from Desmond Bane, who looked comfortable as one of the main engines of the attack in the finale.
Sean Sweeneys group now heads into the regular season with cautious optimism and a clearer sense of identity than it had a week or two ago. The larger question is whether the improved shooting and spacing from October can carry over when the games count and opponents start taking away the easy looks that were available in preseason. [Read more 🡒]
Magics New-Look Core Already Faces Pressure In Sean Sweeneys First Year
Sean Sweeney is stepping into a situation that already comes with some heat on it. After back-to-back play-in appearances and first-round playoff exits, the Magic are expected to keep moving forward with the new head coach in place for the 2026-27 season, and the bar is no longer just about getting back to the postseason. Orlando has tried to build a sturdier foundation, but in a crowded Eastern Conference, the margin for error is still thin.
The good news for the Magic is that there are reasons for optimism if the group can finally settle in together. Franz Wagners return is one of the factors that could lift the ceiling, but the bigger question is whether a reshaped core can click quickly enough to avoid another season spent fighting uphill. Even the floor of the projection leaves Orlando stuck near the play-in picture, which tells you how much pressure Sweeney and the roster are already carrying before the year really gets going. [Read more 🡒]