Overview
- Orlando beat the Miami Heat 136-115 on Friday to finish the preseason 3-1, with Paolo Banchero scoring 24 points and Desmond Bane adding 23 while hitting seven 3-pointers.
- Franz Wagner left the game with right shoulder soreness, did not return, and finished the night with 11 points, six rebounds and six assists in limited minutes.
- Noah Penda exited with right hamstring tightness and Jase Richardson left with a sore lower back, and both players are under further evaluation.
- Head coach Sean Sweeney said there was no new injury detail after the game and the team announced roster cuts the next day by waiving Malaki Branham, JD Davison and Kevin Knox II.
- Orlando will monitor rechecks and practice availability in the days before the Oct. 21 opener, with backup options such as Nikola Vučević and Tristan da Silva likely to play larger roles if any starters are held out.