Orlando Magic: Top 10 games of the 2018 season
6. Oct. 18 vs. Miami Heat
Grades . . . Orlando Magic pass their first test of adversity
Opening night feels like a long time ago. It was a day of some absolute hope and a chance to redeem themselves. Especially after failing to get off to that good foot against their in-state rival the previous year.
The Magic though came out firing. No one knew what to expect from this team and they got a 3-point barrage. Aaron Gordon did not even have a fantastic game on his part. But the Magic still built a healthy lead.
Then the Miami Heat came back with Hassan Whiteside scoring some big baskets and showing off a jumper early in the season.
It felt like the kind of game the Magic would inexcusably lose. There was that feeling of “here we go again.” But this time was different.
The Magic made the plays down the stretch. Evan Fournier and Nikola Vucevic’s two-man game was executed perfectly and the Magic held off the Heat in the end. The sold-out Amway Center went home happy and just about everything seemed completely possible.
All five starters scored at least 13 points and Jonathon Simmons added 12 points off the bench. Orlando played some strong defense and held the Heat to 8-for-21 shooting from beyond the arc. Everything seemed like it could work.
Oh, those optimistic, happy days.