Magic Tie Season Series with Miami
Miami, FL — The Orlando Magic were unable to hold off the determined Miami Heat, who simply wouldn’t admit defeat, and fell 125-119 in a grueling double-overtime contest at Kaseya Center. The game was Orlando’s first double-overtime game of the season and it came at the cost of a loss and a failed opportunity to beat the Heat in their regular season series, which is now tied at 2-2 for the two Florida teams, which could potentially be decisive in playoff seeding as the season progressive.
Key Injury Report Updates
Heading into the game, the Orlando Magic seemed to be finding their footing again when it comes to their injuries, with Goga Bitadze clearing NBA concussion protocol before the game. This left just Jalen Suggs (quad contusion), Gary Harris (hamstring), and Moe Wagner (torn ACL) out of this game. This would also be Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner’s second game back from the torn oblique injuries, which they were each out for an extended period of time.
The Magic are finally starting to get healthy again, but the team needs to find their footing again after coming back from injuries and not having played with each other for much this season
On the Miami Heat’s side, they played without Jimmy Butler, who was suspended. Josh Richardson (heel) and Jaime Jaquez Jr (illness) were also made unavailable.
Heat’s Stars Lead the Comeback
Tyler Herro was instrumental for the Heat, dropping 30 points on 42.9% shooting from the field and adding 12 assists. His performance was highlighted by his clutch plays in overtime. Bam Adebayo wasn’t far behind, contributing 26 points and nearly achieving a triple-double with 10 rebounds and 9 assists, his presence in the paint was crucial during the comeback.
Kel’el Ware, the Heat rookie, also had a significant impact by scoring 19 points with perfect shooting from three-point range and grabbing 10 rebounds. The chemistry among Miami’s key players was evident, giving them the edge over the Magic in crucial moments.
Orlando Blows Opportunities
The Magic had their moments, with Franz Wagner leading the charge with 29 points, though his efficiency was subpar at 40.0% from the field. Paolo Banchero managed 17 points but also struggled, going 33.3% from the field. The team’s overall shooting was lackluster, with a 45.9% field goal percentage compared to Miami’s 52.2%.
Despite these shooting woes, Orlando had some bright moments. The return of Goga Bitadze was a positive note, finishing with a plus-21 in his limited minutes, showing his defensive impact. However, the Magic’s inability to capitalize on leads was their undoing, blowing a 12-point lead in regulation and a 6-point lead in the last two minutes of the first overtime.
This was Orlando’s first double overtime game of the season, adding to the intensity. With this game, it now makes for the second time that Orlando has blown a double-digit lead against Miami heading into the fourth quarter, the only two losses in such circumstances that the Magic has all season long.
Five More Road Games Ahead
The Magic now embark on an extensive five-game West Coast road trip, starting with the Portland Trail Blazers. The loss to the Heat serves as a chemistry-building experience, particularly in managing leads and shooting efficiency for the team as they come back from their injuries. With Wagner and Banchero easing back into their pre-injury form, the team looks to regroup and tackle the upcoming road games with renewed energy.