Inside The Heat

Unfortunate conflict for Heat vs. Magic in Puerto Rico

Ethan J. Skolnick|
Jan 27, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) drives to the basket against Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson (9) during the third quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Jan 27, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) drives to the basket against Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson (9) during the third quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

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There was no way to know at the time.

Yes, the University of Miami and Florida State University had always been scheduled to face each other in football on October 4. But while Miami was considered a contender prior to this season, the Seminoles were coming off a 2-10 record. That was before they opened this season by beating Alabama; and the Hurricanes handled Notre Dame, South Florida and Florida.

Now UM and FSU both are top 10 teams, according to the Associated Press, so their clash will be in primetime on ABC.

And that puts the game in direct conflict with the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, who are hosting a special preseason opener in San Juan, Puerto Rico at 8pm. Both teams have been hyping the matchup, which will pre-date by less than three weeks their regular season opener against each other in Orlando. The Puerto Rico game will feature player appearances, charity events and more. It won't feature Tyler Herro, who is out a couple of months due to ankle surgery.

This will certainly split some attention, considering how many Miami and FSU fans live in, well, Miami and Orlando, respectively -- not to mention the other alums throughout the state of Florida.

Naturally, most of the eyeballs will go to Doak Campbell Stadium, and the contest of far greater significance, as the two squads try to stay undefeated. UM enters this week ranked No. 2 in the nation behind Ohio State, and the Hurricanes and Seminoles have had many classic finishes over the years.

Wide left or wide right, FSU-Miami will be on most of the wide screens.

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Ethan J. Skolnick
ETHAN J. SKOLNICK

Ethan has covered all major sports -- in South Florida and beyond -- since 1996 and is one of the longest-tenured fully credentialed members of the Miami Heat. He has covered, in total, more than 30 NBA Finals, Super Bowls, World Series and Stanley Cup Finals. After working full-time for the Miami Herald, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, Bleacher Report and several other outlets, he founded the Five Reasons Sports Network in 2019 and began hosting the Five on the Floor podcast as part of that network. The podcast is regularly among the most downloaded one-team focused NBA podcasts in the nation, and the network is the largest independent sports outlet in South Florida, by views, listens and social media reach. He has a B.A. from The Johns Hopkins University and an M.S. from Columbia University. TWITTER: @EthanJSkolnick and @5ReasonsSports EMAIL: fllscribe@gmail.com

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