On Saturday, the Orlando Magic came out on top against the in-state rival Miami Heat, 126-114, in overtime to get their 28th win of the season. It also was a much-needed win as it snapped a three-game losing skid for Orlando. For Miami, the loss puts them at 3-4 in their last seven outings. Miami has struggled mightily this season, and the struggles continued to show.
Orlando Offense Comes Alive
The Magic had seven players in double figures. This included all five starters and then Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony off the bench. Wendell Carter Jr. led the team in scoring with 27. He also reeled in 11 boards for his 87th career double-double.
Paolo Banchero also had a near triple-double scoring 17 points, snagging 10 rebounds, and dishing out nine assists (led both teams).
Franz Wagner and Markelle Fultz had efficient games from the floor. They scored 17 and 12 points respectively and shot a combined 13-25 (52%) from the field. Both players also did a great job spreading the ball around having six and eight assists respectively.
Suggs was a huge surprise off the bench for Orlando. The second-year man went 4-6 (67%) from three-point range in his 16-point outing. Anthony was great off the bench as well as he also had 16 points and added six rebounds. Suggs and Anthony went a combined 10-19 (52%) from the field.
As a team, Orlando shot 49% from the floor and out-rebounded the Heat 54-35. They also had an impressive 15 offensive rebounds as a team.
Orlando made shot after shot in overtime, shutting down the Heat immediately in the extra five minutes.
Miami Comes up Short, but Jimmy Butler Shines
The Heat found themselves in holes often due to the wide rebound margin and turnovers. They had a combined 17 turnovers as a team.
Jimmy Butler was the man to watch again as is often the case in South Florida. The veteran scorer finished with a season-high 38 points. The 38 points matched his career-high with the Miami Heat. Butler shot very efficiently going 14-25 (56%) from the field and went perfect from the free throw line (8-8). Miami as a team was very successful from the line as they went 19-20 (95%).
Butler also had a crazy buzzer-beating three pointer to tie the game at 108 at the end of regulation, sending the game into overtime. But it was all for nothing as Miami struggled in the overtime period.
It is the second straight time the Heat and Magic went to OT as they did so exactly a month ago on Feb. 11. The Heat won that matchup 107-102. The Heat still have the season series two games to one.
Up Next
The Magic are now 28-40 on the season and sit 3.5 games back from the play-in as they look to make the push for a postseason berth. Their next game pins them up against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday in the AT&T Center. Tip-off is at 8:00 p.m. E.T.
The Heat are now 36-33 on the season following the loss. They still currently sit at 7th in the eastern conference standings. Their next game has them facing the Utah Jazz on Monday night back at home in FTX Arena. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. E.T.