Wednesday night the Orlando Magic were in Miami for another southeast division matchup.

The start of the game was delayed for 8 minutes because the Magic’s rim was broken from the shoot around. Both teams came out playing competitively, attacking the basket in the half court in the early part of the first quarter. 

Kasperas Jakucionas had 2 quick steals. 

Miami was playing good, turning defense into offense & getting out on the fast break. 

Then the HEAT started playing sloppy on offense & made several turnovers that sparked a big Magic run. Miami went down by double digits in their lackluster first period but brought it back within 7. 

Couper Moorhead Tweeted, “Orlando's 26 1st Q points in the paint are tied for the most by any Heat opponent in a single quarter this season. Heat scored 8 in the paint, mitigated the damage somewhat with 5-of-9 from three despite six turnovers.”

Early turnovers left the Heat down 34-27 to Magic after one.

In the 2Q the HEAT changed to zone defense & sparked a run with good shooting & that settled them back in the game. At that point of the game the HEAT’s leading scorer was Simone Fontecchio with 14 of Heat's first 45 points.. 

The HEAT outscored the Magic in the 2nd quarter 41-25.

At halftime it was Heat 68, Magic 59. Fontecchio led the Heat with 17 points. Adebayo had 9, 4 and 4. Kel’el Ware only played four first-half minutes.

Miami started the 3Q up by 9 points. The HEAT then hit another rough patch of offense with multiple turnovers & poor defense with little to no resistance. 

The HEAT were doing what they could on offense to try & keep the game close. 

Orlando put it on the HEAT in the 3Q coming back from down 9 points & going up by 11 to end the 3Q. Magic outscored the HEAT 40-20 in the 3rd period. 

5 Reasons Sports Tweeted, “Miami about to go 0-4 against an Orlando team that hasn't been great against anyone else.”

After the 3rd period it was Magic 99, Heat 88 which Ira Winderman said it was an “all-too-typical Heat third quarter.”

In the 4Q the Heat were trying to mix it up & get back in the game & went on a 10-0 run. 

And then the Magic did nasty work real quick & pushed the lead back up to 13 points or more. Miami HEAT starters did not have a good game. Credit Orlando, they played incredible basketball in the 2nd half & put a lot of pressure on the HEAT turning turnovers into points. 

5 Reasons Sports said on X, “The Orlando Magic have looked like the team they were supposed to be against just one team -- the Miami Heat.”

Miami wasn’t able to prevent Orlando from scoring & we’re only capable of exchanging baskets pretty much the entire 2nd half.

FINAL: HEAT 124, Magic 133

Fontecchio: 23pts, 5rebs

Powell: 22pts

Adebayo: 21pts, 12rebs, 7asts, 2stls

Wiggins: 16pts, 5rebs

Jaquez Jr.: 13pts, 4asts

Smith: 13pts, 7asts

The threes and the bench, led by Simone Fontecchio, kept Miami alive for a spell, but with Orlando controlling the paint and the possession battle going the wrong way, it only took one more tough third quarter to swing this one to the Magic.

Coup’s Takeaways:

Follow me on X !