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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
MIAMI (AP) -- Win No. 1 for the revamped Miami Heat was coaching
victory No. 1,000 for Pat Riley.
|  | | Newcomer Brian Grant pulled down six rebounds to go with his eight points for the Heat. |
Even without ailing Alonzo Mourning, the Heat meshed marvelously and helped Riley achieve a milestone in their season opener
Wednesday night, beating the Orlando Magic 105-79.
Mourning, who will miss this season with a kidney disorder
discovered at the start of training camp, received a standing
ovation when introduced before the game.
"I appreciate the love, the support, the prayers," he told the
crowd. "That's going to get me through all of this."
Looking dapper in a three-piece suit, Mourning watched the game
from the end of the bench. At the other end sat Riley, who joined
Lenny Wilkens as the only NBA coaches to reach 1,000 wins.
"It's a wonderful honor," Riley said. "Now I know how Lenny
feels. It's very satisfying."
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Moving Up
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Pat Riley is certainly near the top of the list of the all-time greatest NBA coaches. With his 1,000th win Wednesday night he is the quickest in NBA history to reach that mark, and he ranks among the top eight in three other major categories.
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NBA Rank
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Wins
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1,000*
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2
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Pct.
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.697
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3
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Games
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1,434
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8
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Titles
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4
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4
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* Fastest in NBA history to 1,000 wins
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Riley said the pregame tribute to Mourning wasn't orchestrated
to fire up the team, although that may have been the effect.
"Zo hadn't had a chance to talk to the fans," Riley said. "He has gotten hundreds and hundreds of cards. There's a lot of support out there, and some of our guys played a little bit with his face on."
The Magic were also without their best player. Forward Grant Hill sat out because of soreness in his left ankle after playing 33 minutes in a season-opening victory Tuesday over Washington. Hill
is still recovering from offseason surgery on the ankle, and his
status is day-to-day.
The Heat began the season with four new starters but dominated
at the outset thanks to their lone holdover -- Tim Hardaway. He
scored 12 of the first 27 points for the Heat, who raced to leads
of 17-3, 28-7 and 37-14.
"Everybody thinks with Zo not here, we're just going to lay
down and die," Hardaway said. "We're not going to do that."
The Magic missed 12 of their first 16 shots and looked sloppy on
defense, while Miami started 11-for-12.
"When you come out and shoot 91 percent in the first eight
minutes, it says a lot," Orlando's Darrell Armstrong said. "It
can say either we're not playing defense, or they're just making
all their shots. It was both."
Hardaway finished with 17 points and seven assists in 25 minutes
to help give the Heat their most lopsided win in an opener. Among
the newcomers, Eddie Jones had 17 points and reserve Don MacLean 16.
A.C. Green, who signed a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the Heat on Tuesday, played his 1,111th consecutive game, extending his NBA record. He had five points and four rebounds in 15 minutes.
"The Heat sent a message that if you're a team that works
together and plays hard, you can win games," Orlando coach Doc
Rivers said. "That was our message last year. Maybe we forgot."
Tracy McGrady, who scored a career-high 32 points Tuesday
against Washington, had 16 points for the Magic and four of his
team's 29 turnovers.
"Miami forced me to shoot a lot of jumper, which I really
didn't want to do," McGrady said. "They wouldn't let me get to
the hole. I couldn't get into my groove."
Riley, starting his 19th NBA season, reached 1,000 wins in 1,434 games, fewer than any coach or manager in any sport. He trails Toronto's Wilkens by 179 wins.
Game notes
Mourning, Hardaway and nine other Olympians from South
Florida were honored at halftime. ... Despite the Heat's busy
offseason, the crowd of 16,500 was 3,100 shy of a sellout. ... The
Magic went 11-11 last season in the second game of back-to-backs.
... Orlando went 11-29 last year when allowing 100 points. ...
Riley has won eight of his past nine openers.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Orlando Clubhouse
Miami Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 103
Detroit 83
Philadelphia 104
Toronto 98
Washington 95
Charlotte 77
Cleveland 102
Sacramento 100
Miami 105
Orlando 79
Seattle 112
Denver 99
Utah 97
LA Lakers 92
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Eddie Jones throws down the alley-oop from Anthony Carter.
avi: 438 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Tim Hardaway talks with ESPN's Kelly Neal.
wav: 434 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Pat Riley is amazed to have reached 1,000 wins.
wav: 75 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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