Newcomer Steve Francis hit a driving layup with two-tenths of a second remaining as the new-look Magic posted a wild 93-92 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in the season opener for both teams.
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Bucks-Magic: 300k 
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"I knew that I could get from one end of the court to the other in three seconds, so why couldn't I get from the top of the key to the rim in three seconds," said Francis, who also recorded nine rebounds and seven assists. "Pat Garrity set a great screen in getting me open, and they all spread out and I was able to get the shot.
The Bucks, playing away from home for a 20th consecutive season opener, rallied from a 72-57 deficit to take an 85-81 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
Reserve center Zaza Pachulia, a member of Orlando's team that went a league-worst 21-61 last season, scored six of his 11 points in a 13-2 run for Milwaukee before Francis saved the day for the Magic.
"They've probably been watching a lot of tape, and even in transition plays, they know I like to throw lobs," Francis added. "That's how I was able to get to the rim a lot. So they were expecting me to throw a pass, but I was able to go all the way to the basket and finish the layup."
The contest featured five lead changes in the final 2 1/2 minutes. Grant Hill, who made his first appearance in nearly two years, hit a fallaway jumper from the left baseline to give the Magic a 91-90 lead with 19.3 seconds left.
"If Grant can stay healthy, they'll be a playoff-caliber team fighting for a playoff spot," Bucks coach Terry Porter said. "He's showing still that even after four surgeries he has a ton of quickness to get up and down."
The Bucks regained the lead when All-Star Michael Redd banked in a jumper from the top of the key with 3.5 seconds remaining.
Following a timeout, Hill got the inbounds pass to Francis, who charged down the line and scooped in a layup while getting hit on the right arm by Maurice Williams. Francis intentionally missed the free throw, allowing time to expire.
"Grant was carrying us at times and when we had lulls, we were riding his back," Francis said. "For me, to see Grant come out and do the things he used to do I thought was great. I thought he did a good job of displaying what he's been missing, what Magic fans have been missing."
Hill, limited to 47 games the last four seasons, scored 20 points in 33 minutes in his first appearance since January 16, 2003.
"The thing I tried to do was not get too excited. I came into the locker room and read a little bit and relaxed (before the game)," Hill said. "I tend not to play well when I get too excited. It was fun to be back out there, interacting with each other. I have a tendency to be a little too critical of myself with the turnovers (four) and lack of rebounding, but it's fun to be back out there. It's fun to be critical of my play and not my health."
Dwight Howard, the top pick in this year's draft out of high school, recorded 12 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and three steals for the Magic, who revamped their lineup after posting the NBA's worst record last season.
"The guys in the locker room now don't have a reference point for what happened last year," Magic coach Johnny Davis said. "We don't even talk about what happened last year."
Redd paced five Milwaukee players in double figures with 19 points, but made just 9-of-21 shots from the field.