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MIAMI (Ticker) -- The Miami Heat without Alonzo Mourning were a lot better than the Orlando Magic without Grant Hill. Spurred on by a pregame tribute to their fallen superstar, the Heat exploded to a 23-point lead after one quarter and cruised to a 105-79 victory over the Magic in their season opener, giving coach Pat Riley his 1,000th career win. "I didn't expect that. I expected a much tougher game," Riley said. "However, I'm not totally surprised at how we started the game and how we played." "It's hard to win without having one of your stars in the game," Magic coach Doc Rivers said. "Miami didn't have their star in the game but they covered for each other and we didn't." During the offseason, the Heat acquired All-Star guard Eddie Jones and forwards Brian Grant and Anthony Mason to team with Mourning, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year. The moves made Miami prohibitive favorites in the Eastern Conference until Mourning went down for the season -- and perhaps his career -- with a kidney ailment. As part of the pregame festivities, the scoreboard displayed highlights of Mourning, a nine-year veteran who has been with the Heat since 1995. The 6-10 center came onto the court and made a speech, saying, "It's not about me anymore. It's about the love and support and prayers you show these guys each and every night." That fired up the Heat, who never trailed. They opened leads of 15-3 and 28-7 before extending to 37-14 after one quarter. "Alonzo hasn't had an opportunity to thank the fans," Riley said. "This wasn't orchestrated for effect or to fire up the team. I thought it was a very moving experience." "The words (Mourning) had for the team and the crowd were perfect," said Grant, who had early foul trouble. "I was so juiced up, I went out and slapped two people around too early and that's why I ended up on the bench." Hill played 33 minutes and had nine points and 10 assists in Tuesday's season-opening win over Washington. But he still is not fully recovered from offseason ankle surgery and sat this one out. Without him, the Magic struggled. Rookie Mike Miller started in his place and scored one point in the first quarter, when Orlando had six baskets and seven turnovers. "We should still be able to win games (without Grant Hill)," Magic guard Darrell Armstrong said. "We didn't do anything and when you do that, you're not going to win games." Over the final three quarters, the Heat led by no less than 16 points and by as many as 33 as Riley cruised to his 1,000th win. In 18 seasons as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, New York and Miami, he is 1,000-434. Lenny Wilkens of the Toronto Raptors is the all-time leader with 1,179 coaching wins. "It's a wonderful honor," Riley said. "I never thought that I would do it. I never thought that I would be in a position to do it. It all started so quickly for me 19 years ago." Jones and Tim Hardaway scored 17 points apiece for Miami. Both were red-hot in the first quarter, combining for 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting. "Everyone wanted to know if I'm back, if I'm going to be aggressive and if I'm going to go to the hole. They found out tonight," said Hardaway, who has been slowed by knee injuries the last two seasons. "It's going to be like that all season. I'm going to be aggressive and make things happen." Jones and Hardaway each made 3-pointers in Miami's initial run, which opened a 15-3 lead less than four minutes into the game. Another 3-pointer by Hardaway and a free throw by A.C. Green --playing in his record 1,111th consecutive game -- extended the margin to 28-7 with 3:56 left. Two free throws and a layup by Don MacLean closed the quarter and gave Miami a 37-14 lead. The Heat shot a blistering 81 percent (13-of-16) and held the Magic to 30 percent (6-of-20) in the period. "I don't mind losing the basketball game, but I don't enjoy having a team outwork us, and that is what happened to us tonight," Rivers said. "This should teach us something about how to play and how to prepare for a game." MacLean scored 16 points for Miami, which shot 50 percent (38-of-76) and forced 29 turnovers, turning them into 34 points. Tracy McGrady scored 16 points for Orlando (1-10, which shot 39 percent (31-of-79), including 1-of-11 from the arc. The Heat have won six of the last eight in the intrastate rivalry and lead the all-time series, 25-19.
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