Magic vs. Heat Preview: The Orlando Magic Push For 500 With Injuries In Their Frontcourt

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What better way to start 2020 at home, than with a matchup between in-state rivals? In their second game of the new year, the Orlando Magic will face the Miami Heat on January 3rd, hoping to give the Heat their first loss of 2020. With Aaron Gordon listed as questionable with a sore left Achilles, and other key Magic players suffering from injuries, this game will be a test for the Magic as the number three team in the East, Miami Heat, are proving to be a top opponent in the NBA.

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With a record of 15-19, the Orlando Magic are fighting to improve to .500 on the season, and continue their one-game winning streak after defeating the Washington Wizard on January 1st, with a final score of 122-101. D.J. Augustin will be going into this game coming off of a career-high 25 points with an added nine assists. Nikola Vucevic will also head into the matchup finishing the previous game with a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds. Orlando played a solid game against Washington, shooting 47.4 percent from the floor and shooting 12/32 from beyond the arch with 25 assists. But can they continue their solid gameplay against a resilient Miami Heat?

The Miami Heat will come into Orlando with a 25-9 record, having just defeated the Toronto Raptors 84-76 on the road. Being fourth in the NBA behind the Boston Celtics, the Heat have shown that they made smart decisions in the off-season picking up Jimmy Butler and putting together a rising rookie class that is averaging 32.2 points this season. But, will Jimmy Butler be the man of the hour? Averaging 20.8 points-per-game with 6.6 rebounds and assists, Butler is coming off of a 12 rebound and seven assist game against the Raptors, but only making two of ten from field goal range.

Image via Miami Herald

Image via Miami Herald

With Miami having a strong bench and critical role players in every position, Orlando must bring the same urgency and intensity they played with against Washington, back to Orlando for a chance to defeat the Heat. An excellent performance by the Magic bench and key stats from Evan Fournier (averaging 19.4 ppg) and Nikola Vucevic (averaging 18.2 ppg and 10.7 rpg) will play a significant role in the Magic's performance on Friday night.

Image via Amway Center

Image via Amway Center

Key Notes:

  • Orlando is 10-7 this season at the Amway Center.

  • The Magic were 25-16 last season at home (including two wins Dec. 13-15 in Mexico City). The 25 home wins were the most in a season for Orlando since 2010-11, where they went 29-12.

  • The Orlando Magic are averaging 103.4 ppg. (3,517 points) this season, recorded 100+ points 20 times (11-9 record), 110+ points nine times (9-0 record), and 120+ points five times (5-0 record), including a season-high 130 points on Dec. 15 @ New Orleans.

  • The Orlando Magic have made at least one three-point field goal in 1,018 consecutive games, dating back to March 17th, 2007 (last game without a three-pointer: March 14th, 2007 vs. Utah, 0-for-9). It stands as the fifth-longest active streak in the NBA.

  • The HEAT has recorded a 20-plus point lead in the first quarter five times this season. 

  • Miami has scored at least 70 first-half points five times this season, already the most for any season in franchise history. 

  • The HEAT has recorded at least 30 assists seven times this season, the most through the first 33 games of a season in team history. 

  • Miami has recorded a +11.9 scoring margin at home this season, the second-highest in the NBA. 

  • Miami has totaled 3,709 points this season, the most through the first 33 games of a season in franchise history. 

  • The HEAT has out-rebounded their opponents by double-digits in 12-of-16 home games this season.

  • The HEAT is 21-1 this season when out-rebounding their opponent.