Orlando Magic’s playoff hopes tied to besting Miami Heat

Evan Fournier's upcoming free agency presents a dilemma for the Orlando Magic. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Evan Fournier's upcoming free agency presents a dilemma for the Orlando Magic. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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Aaron Gordon, Terrence Ross, Orlando Magic
ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 14: Terrence Ross #31 and Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic high five during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 14, 2019 at Amway Center in Orlando, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

Beating the competition

So what about the Charlotte Hornets?

If there is a three-way tie between the Orlando Magic, Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets, the intra-competition record will break that first tie. Orlando is currently 4-3 against those two teams, Charlotte is 4-3 and Miami is 3-5. That final game to the season between the Magic and Hornets would break the tie and determine the division winner.

The Magic will know if those stakes exist when they enter the final game. That still feels far off, but not impossible.

In the event that three teams finish with the same record and there is no division winner, the first tiebreaker is the record between the tied teams. The next tiebreaker is conference record.

Here, the Orlando Magic might have a small advantage. Assuming just a three-way tie between the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, Orlando has a 4-3 record. The Nets sport a 3-3 record against the Magic and Heat with one game remaining against the Heat on the final night of the season in Brooklyn. Miami is currently 3-4 with that one game left too.

The Magic would favor a Heat win in that last game of the season to clinch the tiebreaker over both the Nets and Heat in the event of a three-way tie without needing the division championship.

But that division championship trumps everything. Winning the division is the first tiebreaker in the event of a three-way tie. But Orlando has a favorable record in a three-way tie situation with the Heat and Nets regardless of that division winner corollary.

That would pull the team to seventh place.

If the tie is between say the Nets, Magic and Pistons, things do not look as favorable. Orlando lost both the season series to the Nets and Pistons and so would likely lose that three-way tiebreaker.

No matter the scenario, it appears most likely the Magic would need to win the Southeast Division to make the playoffs. Luckily they have the inside track to that having defeated the Heat on Tuesday for the season series.