Orlando Magic Daily
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The Orlando Magic face must-win game against Miami Heat

By Spencer R. Henderson

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 08: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic shoots over Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic during the second half at American Airlines Arena on October 8, 2018 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 08: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic shoots over Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic during the second half at American Airlines Arena on October 8, 2018 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic will have to beat the Miami Heat in order to cement their spot in the 2019 NBA Playoffs. A win will give them the season series and a leg up in the race.

The Orlando Magic have what they want.

A chance to play their way into a Playoff that has eluded the franchise since the team traded Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Magic lost the driver’s seat for the final playoff spot when they did not take care of the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks or the Cleveland Cavaliers after the All-Star break.

But sweeping their five-game homestand and winning six of their last eight games have put them on the doorstep again to control their own destiny with eight games to play.

The Magic currently have the second-longest winning streak in the NBA behind the LA Clippers. Although the Magic had some tough losses late in the year, they look to be heating up at the right time of the year with only eight games remaining.

Now they face the team they are trying to leapfrog in the Miami Heat led by Dwyane Wade in his last year in the league. The whole league is likely cheering for Wade to make the postseason in his final year and the upstart Magic are playing a bit of the villain.

Wade is certainly playing like the playoffs matter to him and his #OneLastDance, averaging 14.8 points per game on 47.0 percent shooting in his last nine games. That includes some stellar late-game performances to give the Heat wins in six of the last nine games.

That hot streak has kept Miami in front of Orlando in the playoff chase and narrowed the gap between even sixth place and ninth place. Every game counts, especially against direct competition.

This is the definition of a must-win game.

With the win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, the Orlando Magic find themselves just one-half game behind the Miami Heat for that final playoff spot.

A win Tuesday at American Airlines Arena would put the Magic in the driver’s seat for the eighth seed in the playoffs. Add in Thursday’s game against the Detroit Pistons, holding tenuously to a 1.5-game lead over the Orlando Magic for the seventh seed, and the Magic have a chance to make up serious ground and build some cushion.

A loss to both of these teams will put the team in a hole and make it more difficult to end their playoff drought.

Against both the Heat and the Pistons, the Magic need wins to secure more favorable tiebreakers. A win Tuesday against Miami would give Orlando the season series 3-1.

A loss would not be fatal, other than tumbling the Magic back to 1.5 games back with seven games to play. Orlando is still likely to win the divisional tiebreaker with two games left and hold a lead for the moment in conference tiebreaker.

A loss makes the task of catching the Heat that much harder. Orlando is chasing and needs every chance to make up ground the team can get.

This is a great part of the season. We can actually see if this team has what it takes to become a playoff team in these last eight games. The playoffs really feel like they have arrived early.

The team was pushed to the brink against the Memphis Grizzlies and it came out of the corner fighting to ultimately win the game in overtime.

Fans in Central Florida got to see how these young players react in a situation where they are actually playing for postseason contention, something they have never played for on the NBA level. This is the time where the Magic can truly find a second option to pair with Nikola Vucevic.

Against the Grizzlies it was Evan Fournier. Fournier had 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists in what was a must-win game for the Magic. If he can consistently put up those type of numbers the Magic should be just fine for the remainder of the year.

He did Monday, scoring 24 to match Nikola Vucevic’s 28-point effort. More importantly, the defense went into lockdown mode and pulled off an impressive performance for the offensive to operate.

Next. Nikola Vucevic encouraged with Orlando Magic's direction. dark

Evan Fournier will need to play with the same sort of intensity if they are going to beat the Heat in what is going to feel like a Playoff game in Miami on Tuesday night.