Opening Night Preview: Miami Heat vs. Orlando Magic

With the preseason officially ending, the NBA season is now right around the corner, starting on December 23rd. Usually, the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic would have separate opening games, but will suit up against each other at Orlando’s Amway Center. The defending Eastern Conference Champions won three of the four meetings with the Magic in the 2019-2020 season and will look to continue their dominance against the Magic. Former All-Stars Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler, along with breakout star Tyler Herro will provide Orlando plenty of problems defensively, with the absence of Jonathan Isaac for the beginning of the season. Orlando may be able to keep up with Miami’s stellar offense, however. Cole Anthony showed real flashes in the preseason, erupting for 16 points against Atlanta and 19 against Charlotte. Anthony and the second unit will be pivotal for Orlando trying to lead a season-opening upset.

Key Matchup #1: Bam Adebayo vs Chuma Okeke

This will be a very tough test for Orlando’s frontcourt depth. Adebayo is coming off of a career year with the Heat, averaging 15.9 PPG, 10.2 RPG, and 5.1 APG. Adebayo did earn an All-Star appearance while he was at it, too. He should have a field day against the young, inexperienced duo. With Chuma Okeke making his NBA debut on Wednesday, we will see Okeke struggle against Adebayo. Okeke has played in all four preseason games though, averaged 5.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.5 APG in 17.7 MPG. Okeke has been classified as a 3-d Wing, but Okeke does have the size to stick with Adeybao, at 6’8, 230 lbs. Orlando’s gameplan will need to start with shutting down Adebayo to beat the Miami Heat.

Key Matchup #2: Avery Bradley vs Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony

Fultz and Anthony aren’t great scoring guards, by any means. But scoring is something that both these guards will eventually be good at, and Bradley will need to slow down the duo. Fultz averaged 14.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.5 APG in 27.3 MPG in the preseason. Anthony also put up good offensive numbers, averaging 15.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 3.8 APG in 23.3 MPG. Both Fultz and Anthony play big roles in Orlando’s Offensive success, which is why Bradley is so important for Miami. Along with averaging 8.6 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 1.3 APG, Bradley pitched in 0.9 SPG and 0.1 BPG in his lone season with the Lakers. Bradley’s not going to have to shut down the likes of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, or Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Fultz and Anthony will provide Miami problems. This matchup may even be the difference between a Heat win and a Magic win.

Injury Report for the Miami Heat

PG Kendrick Nunn: Point Guard Kendrick Nunn (groin) looks good to go for Wednesday’s game against the Magic after practicing with the team Sunday, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports. Nunn missed some time in the preseason with a groin issue, but he looks like he’ll be ready to go for Wednesday’s regular-season opener versus the Magic. The 25-year-old served as the Heat‘s starting point guard for much of his rookie season in 2019-20, but he saw his role vanish in the playoffs with head coach Erik Spoelstra favoring Goran Dragic and Tyler Herro. Nunn averaged 15.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, and 3.3 APG while shooting 43.9% from the field and 35.0% from the three-point line. Nunn was named to the 2019-2020 All-Rookie Team after a stellar rookie season.

PG/SG Avery Bradley: Defensive specialist Avery Bradley (hamstring) practiced with the team Sunday, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports. Bradley returned to practice quickly after missing the team’s preseason finale on Friday, suggesting that he’ll be ready to go for the start of the regular season. The 30-year-old was a starter for the Lakers for much of the 2019-20 campaign, but he may have to settle for a bench role in a deep Heat wing rotation that also includes Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Duncan Robinson and Andre Iguodala. Bradley will have to shut down Orlando’s two biggest offensive threats in the backcourt with Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony.

Injury Report for the Orlando Magic

SF James Ennis: Free-Agent signing James Ennis (hamstring) will not play in Wednesday’s season-opener against the Heat, Josh Robbins of The Athletic reports. A strained hamstring kept Ennis out of the entire preseason, and his absence will now include the Magic’s first meaningful contest. Orlando started former Charlotte Hornet Dwayne Bacon at small forward in all four preseason games, so he’ll be the favorite to get the nod again Wednesday night.

SF Jonathan Isaac: As previously mentioned, Isaac will miss the 2020-2021 NBA season while recovering from a torn ACL. Isaac’s injury has had costly effects on the Magic, especially with Al-Farouq Aminu joining him on Injured Reserve. During 34 games that played in this past season, Isaac averaged 11.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.4 APG, and 2.3 BPG. 

PF Al-Farouq Aminu: The Magic have lost another key piece in the frontcourt, as Al-Farouq Aminu will be out indefinitely after undergoing a knee procedure. Aminu will be on injured reserve to start the season, but there’s a chance Aminu could return later in the season. Aminu underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee, and the procedure occurred to find out what was causing the continued swelling in the knee he injured on Nov. 29, 2019, while trying to chase down and contest a layup attempt by Toronto’s Pascal Siakam. The injury was said as a torn meniscus.

C Mo Bamba: The former sixth overall pick from the 2018 NBA Draft will miss opening day due to Covid-19. Bamba was cleared for full contact on December 17th while he was still dealing with COVID-19. The Magic will keep Bamba out for the sake of Bamba’s health and for the two teams as well. Bamba averaged 5.4 PPG and 4.9 RPG in 62 games in 2019 for the Magic.

Author’s Prediction: Miami Heat 122, Orlando Magic 105

Although this game seems easy to predict, the Orlando Magic do have some of the tools to knock off the Miami Heat. For one, Orlando’s got some serious offensive firepower and can outscore the Heat on the shoulders of Fultz, Anthony, and Vucevic. Orlando could also slow down Adebayo, causing more pressure on Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro. With that being said, the Heat’s depth and stardom will be too much for the Magic to overcome. The Heat will win this game handily, with a final score of 122-105.

 

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