Magic Shutdown Heat in Fourth Quarter To Secure a 20-Point Victory

Image via Orlando Magic

With 25 points from Terrence Ross and a 20 point, 11 rebound double-double from Nikola Vucevic, the Orlando Magic took on the Miami Heat Friday night, giving the Heat a 20 point loss in the City Beautiful. 

Playing in their second game of a back-to-back, after holding the Toronto Raptors to 6 of 42 from 3-point range, the Miami Heat shot only 37.5 percent overall against the Magic. Jimmy Butler, playing a great game, secured 23 points and ten rebounds for the Heat, but Miami would only score six points in the fourth quarter on shooting three of 19 from the field.

Image via Orlando Magic

After being listed as questionable for Friday's game, Aaron Gordon would return to the floor. Gordon's return proved invaluable for the Magic with Jonathan Isaac sitting out due to a severe knee sprain and bone bruise. Gordon would take home 16 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, along with an incredible dunk in the second quarter to ignite the fans and the Magic bench.

After the game, Magic head coach Steve Clifford had some words on Aaron Gordon's return Friday night. "Aaron gave us physicality. He has the ability to defend primary scorers and make it hard on them, which is hard to do," states Coach Clifford. 

With 4:29 left in the game, the Magic would lead the Heat by 18 points off of a 3-pointer by Aaron Gordon and a hook shot by Vucevic. Miami was not much help to themselves going scoreless for over three minutes in the fourth quarter and turning the ball over three times.

The Orlando Magic would lead the Heat in key stats throughout the game, including field goal percentage with 40.7% and free throw percentage making 26 of 29 from the charity stripe. However, it was the Magic's defense that proved stable in tonight's victory. With 37 defensive rebounds, 11 steals, and four blocks, the Magic came to play defensively against their in-state rivals.

When talking about the Magic's defense, Steve Clifford stated, "I thought our defense, for the most part, was really good. That multiple effort, cover, know who you're closing to, particularly in the fourth quarter, was really good."

Image via MIami Heat

Miami has been one of the top 3-point shooting teams this season. However, the Heat were not as accurate as they have been from the 3-point line, as the Magic succeeding in closing out the Heat's shooters on nearly every play. Miami went 7-out-of-37 from three-point range, with the Heat bench only contributing one of 10 from three in the first half.

Friday's game is the first of four meetings this season between the Magic and Heat. The in-state and Southeast Divison rivals will play three more games – January 27 and March 4 in Miami and February 1 in Orlando. In the 31-year history of the rivalry, the Orlando Magic are now 31-30 breaking the tie in the 61 games played in Orlando.

What's Next

Miami Heat: Host Portland on Sunday, January 5

Orlando Magic: Host Utah and Saturday, January 4

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Key Notes:

• Magic's Nikola Vucevic recorded his 300th career double-double in Friday's game against the Heat.

• The six points scored by the Heat in the 4th quarter are the fewest points scored in a quarter since Toronto held Portland to six points during the 2nd quarter on October 30, 2017.

• The six points scored tied a Magic franchise record for fewest points allowed in any quarter.

• Markelle Fultz recorded a career-high six steals in Friday's game versus the Heat

• Miami put up a quarter season-high of 35 points in the 3rd quarter of Friday's game against Orlando

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

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.

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

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.

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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.