The Orlando Magic fought off the Miami Heat and secured a 106-105 win inside Kia Center Friday evening.
Miami had to climb back from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit. They cut it to within three on three separate occasions, but Franz Wagner, who scored a game-high 32 points on 12-of-22 shooting, had a response each time.
Bam Adebayo ultimately missed the game-winning jumper as time expired — a play that reeked of miscommunication between him and Norman Powell, who tallied a team-high 28 points.
Friday’s loss drops the Heat to 4-7 on the road this season — 14-9 overall.
Adebayo scored 24 points while grabbing a team-high 15 rebounds, adding three assists, two steals and two blocks. Aside from his final shot (Powell wanted the DHO) and one errant second-half pass that found the third row, he was phenomenal.
Powell’s 28 points came on 18 shots, but with just two made 3-pointers. As a team, the Heat only made seven threes while attempting just 19, six off their previous season low (25 — Nov. 3 vs. Clippers).
The Heat also beat themselves with their haphazard turnovers, coughing up the rock 15 times, including nine times in the second half. Combine that, their lack of made threes plus their nine missed free throws — the Heat did not win the margins.
Friday was the first night of a back-to-back for the Heat. They will travel back home for a game against the Sacramento Kings before heading back to Orlando for their Emirates Cup quarterfinal game on Tuesday, Dec. 9.
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Where we would be without Powell?
Something must be done with rotation. Ware and Bam in starting lineup is not a good combination, because Ware is invisible then.
Then, bench is pretty bad for several games now. JJJ, Simone, Pelle, Dru and of course especially Nico, if he plays, are all much worse then they use to be.
jjj plays great d just having problems finishing but def a rotation player.dru serves his purpose but his play should be better.pelle simone not playing at nba level need keshot to gobble up their minutos
That is what would do also. Not sure Keshad is answer either, but I would give him a try sometimes. I still think Pelle is more of a positive presence than negative, but not as much as before. But, Keshad would more replace Simone in the rotation, who might be at about fifty percent good, fifty percent not. They both should get a chance with different opponents. Better still, we shore up the position from the outside. We just aren’t very deep at forward, either one.
when keshot played whats not to like 30.perf nba body .with some skills.pelle should do modeling.simones been a below avg player his whole career.
He has problems finishing for last 5 games… he barely average 10 points per game, in comparison to close to 17 ppg he averaged at the start of the season.
Its obvious, that opposing teams are prepared for his game close to the rim. They left him outside, and here comes out his weakness, lack of outside shooting.
Jaime highway is temporary closed, he needs to find another path to success.
okc 22 1 that coach must be incredible whats his name
pls give keshot a chance dumbot really impressive specimen and player.i want unc back i miss him more and more each day..fonzi my days are not happy watching brick after brick.i can see why det traded your ars.when u miss 41 of 49 3s u get more pt with this top 15 coach
Its pretty obvious this is a middling team until/unless trades are made. I like the team overall, it just needs another closer and another frontcourt rotation player. The fix will probably involve multiple teams/Heat players.
derozan in town tonight dont let him leave the bldg.but rcs right when your drafting low its hard to get real good unless u trade with the clippers.it is what it is.basically last years team plus an all star player.give or take a few dav assists.need more to get fitted for rings.powells 32 pat times running out.
This.
kawhi prob avail im calling
I like the way we battled them, but we should of won this. You can talk about that last bam play that he should of passed it to powell, but regardless it’s unacceptable to miss that many fts smdh , at one point norman missed 2 straight, and he supposed to be an elite ft shooter. Also too many turnovers, and missed bunnies. The team needs to work on there fts, anyways on to the next.
shoulda coulda woulda we didnt not good enough.need more big.or less of fonzi and pelle.