Orlando Magic Grades: Orlando Magic 104, Miami Heat 101
The Orlando Magic had to hold on through their own late-game gaffes but scored an opening night victory over the rival Miami Heat.
38. Final. 101. 110. 104
The Orlando Magic were clinging to the lead as they have done countless times. The whiff of here we go again was in full effect as the Miami Heat seemed to make every 50-50 play, catch every break and allow the Orlando Magic to beat themselves in the final moments of the game.
Up by eight with 2.5 minutes to play, Nikola Vucevic was called for a dubious offensive foul while posting up Rodney MacGruder. Rodney MacGruder would then get gifted a three-shot foul when Aaron Gordon barely grazed him on a follow through a challenge. And, worst of all, after giving up a jump ball when Jerian Grant was trapped by mid-court, Nikola Vucevic won the tip and tapped it directly to an opportunistic Goran Dragic who cut the lead to two points with 30 seconds left.
Orlando did itself no favors with Evan Fournier missing a pair of free throws up one in the final moments. The Magic continually left the door open to the Heat to go through and spoil a good time to open the Magic’s 30th anniversary season.
To that point int he final minutes, Orlando was largely entertaining and fun. The team scrapped on defense and showed glimmers of their future with Aaron Gordon and Mohamed Bamba providing plenty of highlights. It was far from perfect, but the team was playing together and doing all the things it needed ultimately to grow and win.
It probably makes sense then that the game was ultimately decided on an immeasurable defensive play. Jonathan Isaac guarding Josh Richardson as Richardson tried to go baseline. And Jonathan Isaac, a virtual nonfactor for much of the game, using his otherworldly length to force Josh Richardson to step on the line to get by.
The turnover helped give the Magic just the cushion they needed for a 104-101 win over the Heat on opening night at Amway Center on Wednesday. A sigh of relief for a team that nearly lost a win they desperately need for confidence. The scars of the past are not gone. But the team looked and felt a bit different.
It is just one game and the energy of the opener definitely was in play. But the Magic played with the energy and largely the attention to detail the team will need. Again, it was far from perfect. But this franchise will take wins where they can get them.
It was a chance to learn and grow and there is still plenty to work on. But it is better to learn those in wins.
A-. Aaron Gordon looked every bit like a star in waiting throughout the game. Not only that he was a star in waiting but that he had the understanding of when and how to get himself and others involved. It was hard to find a true Gordon highlight because so much of what he did in scoring 26 points seemed so natural and easy.<p>Early on, Gordon did a good job picking his spots and working to get others involved. He was driving to the basket and dishing it out effectively. In the end, Gordon shot 9 for 18 with two assists. He fell into a trap of taking bad shots and trying to force his shots in the second half some especially as the offense struggled. But Gordon was efficient and good for most of the night.</p><p>More importantly, Gordon made it a point to get after the glass and get on the board. He tied a career high with 16 rebounds. He was chasing boards and fighting anyone who was trying to get on the glass. This was a big point of emphasis for him in the offseason to become a better rebounder. He owned the glass all night.</p>. F. Orlando Magic. AARON GORDON
A. The biggest impact in the game was from a source that was not expected to make this kind of a change this soon. <a href=. F/C. Orlando Magic. MOHAMED BAMBA
C-. If Mohamed Bamba was the dominant force everyone expected, the contrast between him and Nikola Vucevic was stark. After the game, Vucevic got plenty of heat because Bamba just felt like he was so much better. And the Magic’s late-game lead fell apart once Vucevic came into the game. That is not all on him. There is some coincidence to it. But undoubtedly the Heat knew they could attack the basket more with Vucevic in the game.<p>It started with his defense in the first half. Goran Dragic and <a rel=. C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC
TERRENCE ROSS. B+. The Orlando Magic won this game largely on the strength of the team’s bench players. The second unit in the second and fourth quarters came in and brought energy and changed the tempo and tenor of the game. Orlando came out slow and it was because of the strong play of the bench the team even had a chance to win this.<p><a href=. G/F. Orlando Magic
C. The Miami Heat are a team that is secure in its identity. And they did not let the Orlando Magic get anything easy all night. Miami locked in on several occasions and made life difficult for Orlando. None moreso than that closing stretch. The Heat tightened up and trapped and caught a Magic team that is still trying to get confident late in games.<p>The question for the Heat is why it took them so long to dial up to that intensity. Miami was chasing Orlando for much of the game, but Miami also came out hot and had control early on. The Heat let the Magic back in the game. They went away from the pick and rolls that killed the Magic in the early stages of the game.</p><p>Goran Dragic had a killer game with 26 points. But their 39.2 percent shooting had a lot to do with Orlando’s defense and Miami’s own poor execution and passing.</p>. 0-1. 8th East. MIAMI HEAT
dark. Next. The path for the Orlando Magic's playoff push
The Orlando Magic are back in action Friday at the Amway Center when they take on the Charlotte Hornets.