30-year Orlandoversary: Magic start 1-0 for first time with season-opening win over Knicks

The 1991-92 season was the third for the Orlando Magic as an NBA franchise. It was also the first season that Orlando won its opener.

That victory came on this day 30 years ago. In front of a sold-out Orlando Arena on Nov. 1, 1991, the Magic got the season started on the right foot with a 106-96 victory over the New York Knicks.

Under first-year head coach Pat Riley, the Knicks would have a solid season, but almost from the opening tip, the Magic controlled the opener. Orlando used a 9-0 run to take an early 13-6 lead and never trailed again.

The lead for the Magic was just three at the break, but a big third quarter allowed Orlando to take an 82-70 into the final period. The Knicks never made a serious threat over the final 12 minutes.

Nick Anderson finished with 22 points on 10-for-15 shooting to lead a balanced Orlando attack. Scott Skiles added 17 points and a game-high 12 assists. Dennis Scott scored 16 points in the win while Mark Acres, Jerry Reynolds and Terry Catledge added 12, 11 and 10, respectively. Catledge paced Orlando with a game-high 11 rebounds.

Orlando collected the victory despite not hitting a single three-pointer. Playing in the building where his career would ultimately end, New York star center Patrick Ewing led the Knicks with game-highs of 30 points and six blocks. Gerald Wilkins and John Starks each added 14 points in the defeat.

The Magic would actually get off to a 5-3 start, but went just 16-68 the rest of the way during a 21-61 campaign. New York reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals and pushed the eventual world champion Chicago Bulls to seven games before ultimately falling.

Although the teams were separated by 30 wins, the first meeting that year went to Orlando as the Magic started 1-0 for the first time ever. It happened on this day three decades ago.