Orlando–FL, Chalk up now three consecutive losses for the Orlando Magic as they lost to their in-state rival in the Miami Heat 116-105.

This was a highly anticipated game for the Magic as they got to play their first game in the newly named Kia Center, Wendell Carter Jr made his return to the court, and the team wanted to make amends for their two losses in Boston last week. After a strong and competitive first quarter by both teams, the Heat went on a massive run to end the first half and they never looked back.

Mo Wagner had an incredible slam over Thomas Bryant to ignite the crowd and Cole Anthony did a great job of scoring the ball which was the only positive to take away from the first half for the Magic.

In that second quarter, Miami scored 43 total points and shot a blistering 8-12 from behind the arch as they used a 17-0 run to fuel their huge lead. It began with Haywood Highsmith who hit two threes in the left corner, one in the right corner, and then went back to the left corner as he connected on four triples in the quarter alone. Jonathan Issac scored seven straight points for the Magic but it wasn’t nearly enough as Miami continued to build their lead with more threes from Josh Richardson and Duncan Robinson, and the Magic went into the locker room down 68-50.

The second half wasn’t any better for the Magic as the Heat continued to hit jumpers and cushion their lead. Tyler Herro was getting anything he wanted from the midrange, getting downhill, hitting spinning turnaround jumpers, and he was sensational all evening as he finished with a game-high 28 points. Miami won this game in dominating fashion, and they did this all without their best player Jimmy Butler.

Orlando would make it interesting late in the fourth with a 17-3 run to cut the lead to 111-104 with under 30 seconds remaining but it was too little too late for the Magic. Cole Anthony led all Magic scorers tonight with 20 points on 8-14 shooting from the field and a 2-5 from deep. Orlando is going to have a brutal stretch ahead of them as they will be facing other notable opponents like the Pacers, Bucks, Knicks, Sixers, etc.

Orlando falls to 16-10 on the season and will have put this game behind them as they take on the Milwaukee Bucks tomorrow evening on the road.