Orlando Magic Grades: Orlando Magic 104, Miami Heat 99
The Orlando Magic went to Miami and won a game in a playoff-like atmosphere, vaulting the Miami Heat into the final playoff spot for now.
104. 38. 99. 110. Final
Dwyane Wade has been willing the Miami Heat to the postseason. He wants his last season to go at least four more games and he has spent his March doing everything he can to hit every clutch shot and turn back the clock to get into the postseason.
He got the ball in the corner with his team trailing, having lost a 17-point lead and scrambled back from a seven-point deficit. He gave that patented Wade pump fake and drew the slightest of touches from Evan Fournier. The 3-pointer was, of course, good. And the Miami Heat had climbed to within two points despite any protestation from the Orlando Magic.
Wade had things cooking early in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter. He single-handedly brought the American Airlines Arena crowd back into the game and upped the ante in a game that was filled with stakes this team had never seen.
It felt like Wade would be the one to lift the Heat to a win and bury the Magic’s playoff hopes.
Orlando never let Miami take the lead.
Terrence Ross blocked a Josh Richardson layup. Jonathan Isaac blocked a layup from James Johnson. And Nikola Vucevic secured every rebound.
From there Nikola Vucevic wedged his way into the middle of the Heat’s zone defense, picking them apart with free-throw line jumpers and rolling into space for post-ups and easy hook shots. He finished the Heat off.
Aaron Gordon kept Dwyane Wade off the scoreboard for the most part after the 7:50 mark and the Heat could not find much offense. Orlando put away any doubt they are playoff ready with a 104-99 win over Miami, climbing into the eighth spot in the playoffs and winning the season series over the team’s in-state rival.
Not even a 17-point lead and that Wade counterpunch were enough to derail the Magic. Orlando struggled early on missing a lot of open shots and getting overwhelmed it seemed by the playoff atmosphere.
Perhaps a longer halftime to honor Chris Bosh‘s jersey retirement allowed them to calm down.
But either way, the Magic came out with a lot more fire and focus in the second half. They played their best defense and forced the Heat into the corners consistently and locked down the paint with their length and activity. The team was dialed in more and more.
And they picked up an emotional win.
A-. Nikola Vucevic has a history of torching the Miami Heat. This was not like those games. He did not dominate in obvious ways. Yet, it was still clear how vital Vucevic was. The Heat tried their best to keep him away from the basket and the ball out of his hands.<p>They zoned and tried to force him into inefficient mid-range jumpers. They tried doubling him as he posted up and tried to turn into the defense. None of it mattered, especially at the end of the game. The Magic worked the pick and roll perfectly to find Vucevic for several key shots and he fought his way to the glass to get key rebounds.</p><p>This was Vucevic’s game to close. And he closed it with a flourish, shedding some poor late-game performances from earlier in the year. The Magic are back in control of their playoff destiny thanks to Vucevic. He scored 24 points and grabbed 16 rebounds when it was all said and done.</p>. C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC
<a href=. F. Orlando Magic. JONATHAN ISAAC. B+
PG. Orlando Magic. D.J. AUGUSTIN. B. Looking at <a href=
B. There were certainly a lot of players who struggled some with the big moment that was this game. <a href=. F. Orlando Magic. AARON GORDON
B-. The Miami Heat are a team that can keep the pressure on opponents. They are a multi-faceted offensive team that brings many of their best players off the bench. All with a strong defense to boot. They trap and play junk defenses to throw teams off rhythm. And they had the Orlando Magic on the ropes for the entire first half.<p>The ball though stopped moving and the Magic’s defense started to take over. They forced the Heat into the corners where they used their length to make things difficult to operate. Miami played into Orlando’s hands.</p><p>And then the Magic started hitting jumpers. That broke the Heat’s zone defense and their junk defense. Orlando got into the paint more and that set everything else up. It was far from easy offensively, but the Magic had their foot on the pedal in the second half. The Heat were trying to keep up.</p>. 36-38. 9th East. MIAMI HEAT
The Orlando Magic continue their road trip Thursday against the Detroit Pistons. The Magic trail the Pistons by one-half game for the seventh spot in the East. They lead the Heat by one-half game for the final spot in the playoffs. With seven Magic wins or seven Heat losses, the Magic will clinch a playoff spot.
Michael Carter-Williams deserves credit for Orlando Magic's renewed energy. dark. Next
With one more win or one more Dallas Mavericks loss, the Orlando Magic will be eliminated from receiving the sixth-best odds to win the NBA Draft Lottery.