In a Sunshine State showdown that featured two short-handed teams, the Miami Heat defeated the Orlando Magic 115-105.
Heading into the Game
Heading into Friday night’s showdown, both the Heat and Magic found themselves missing quite a few players. Miami came in without Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Victor Oladipo, Tyler Herro, and Markieff Morris due to injury. Caleb Martin would also miss Friday’s action due to the health and safety protocols.
Meanwhile, Terrence Ross, Moritz Wagner, Mo Bamba, R.J. Hampton, and Ignas Brazdeikis were placed in the health and safety protocols before the game. As a result, Orlando signed four players from their G League franchise in nearby Lakeland — Aleem Ford, Admiral Schofield, B.J. Johnson, and Hassani Gravett.
Orlando was also without Markelle Fultz, Jonathan Isaac, Michael Carter-Williams, E’Twaun Moore, Jalen Suggs, and Cole Anthony due to injury.
Recap
Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, who both went undrafted, had career nights. Vincent, the UCSB alumnus, had a career-high 27 points on four three-pointers and four assists. Strus, the DePaul alumnus, had a career-high 32 points on 11 field goals and eight three-pointers. He also had a career-high seven rebounds. After the game, Strus said the following: “That’s the culture. We take pride in being undrafted…”
Erik Spoelstra on Strus and Vincent: “These guys, they’re the lifeblood of our player development program. Guys that haven’t been drafted that have big dreams.”
Veteran Kyle Lowry also had a terrific game for Miami. Lowry had 11 points, a season-high 15 assists, and five rebounds. Lowry is currently averaging 7.9 APG this season, which is eighth in the entire NBA.
Rookie Franz Wagner led the Magic in scoring with 27 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Also, Chuma Okeke had a team-high nine rebounds and six steals.
As a team, the Heat shot way better than the Magic. Miami shot 50.0% from the field and 54.3% from downtown, compared to Orlando’s field goal percentage of 48.3% and three-point field goal percentage of 34.4%.
Miami has now won two straight games without Butler, Adebayo, and Herro.
Next Up
Miami: will travel to Detroit to face the Pistons on Dec. 19th.
Orlando: will travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets on Dec. 18th.
(Featured image by John Raoux/AP)