Orlando Magic 2017 Season Review: Top 10 Games of 2017

December 20, 2016

The Miami Heat have haunted the Orlando Magic for much of the last five years. It was not merely LeBron James, although that had a lot to do with it, it was the whole sense that the Heat were winning while the Magic were struggling. Orlando was not going anywhere until the team could overcome its rivals.

Every win — and there were precious few of them — seemed to carry a lot of emotional significance for players on the Magic. Even with the roster changing, these games seemed to have a much larger importance.

After losing that opening game to the Heat, the Magic seemed to right the ship while the Heat struggled. But the records did not matter in this game. Miami had control over the game and every chance to win it.

Then they did what the Magic have done so often. They gave the game away at the free-throw line and left the door open. Somehow Orlando came through.

Evan Fournier missed a jumper on the baseline with the team trailing by two points and Serge Ibaka caught the rebound, spun around and somehow hit a shot to send the game to overtime. The Magic overcame a small deficit in overtime to force a second.

And then the Magic won 136-130 on the road to even the series for the year.

This performance is exactly the kind of performance the Magic knew they would need to take the next step as a franchise and as a team. The kind of step the team needs to take to become a winner.

In December, it felt like it would become a lesson. Even without their best play, the Magic could find a way to win — whether it was digging down and defending or having to outscore their opponent.

Miami left the door open and Orlando took advantage.

"After the Magic somehow won a 136-130 double-overtime game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on Tuesday, FOX Sports Florida’s Dante Marchitelli asked Elfrid Payton if he was surprised by the team’s toughness late in the game. Elfrid Payton flatly responded he was not surprised. He knew this team had it in them to dig in and get this win. They had done it before. The opponents may not have been impressive, but the Magic trailed in wins over the Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets, needing fourth-quarter rallies to secure wins. That experience counted for something. It was evidence the team had that extra gear and drive to win in them. It was something the team had generally lost."

These were all just flashes in the long run.

But the Magic proved to be a thorn in the Heat’s side. Orlando won the season series against Miami for the first time since 2009, winning the return engagement at home and Ibaka’s last game with the Magic in Miami.

It had emotional weight for the team, for sure. But it ultimately meant more to Miami and that team’s Playoff push than Orlando’s Playoff push. The lesson of gutting out a game did not take and the Magic continued their inconsistent December into the basement.