The visiting Orlando Magic and host Miami Heat arrive for his or her in-state matchup Friday evening each winners in three of their final 4 contests.
For Orlando, homecourt victories over NBA-leading Boston on Monday and Indiana on Wednesday marks the Magic’s first consecutive victories since December 21 and 23.
Still 10 video games underneath .500, it heads to Miami in search of a 3rd straight win for the primary time because it had a six-game successful streak final month.
All 5 Orlando starters scored in double-figures within the 126-120 win over the Pacers led by rookie standout Paolo Banchero’s 23 factors. Gary Harris knocked down all six of his 3-point makes an attempt en path to a season-high 22 factors, and Wendell Carter Jr. posted a double-double with 18 factors and 10 rebounds.
The double-double marked Carter’s second straight and sixth for the reason that calendar turned to 2023. The Magic are 5-1 in these contests.
While each Magic starter notched at the least 13 factors Wednesday – with Markelle Fultz and Franz Wagner each hitting that mark – Orlando’s bench supplied an extra 37 factors.
“We did a great job trying sharing the basketball. We might have over-shared a few times,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned. Thirty-four of Orlando’s 46 baskets in opposition to the Pacers had been assisted, with Fultz (eight) and Wagner (seven) main the passing parade.
Orlando goals to proceed its environment friendly offensive play in opposition to Miami, one of many NBA’s greatest defensive groups. The Heat are holding opponents to 108.2 factors per sport (second within the league), offsetting their league-low 108.4 scoring common.
Miami averages 8.5 steals a sport and has held groups to 36.9% capturing from past the 3-point arc.
In every of their final 4 wins, the Heat have held the competitors to 98 or fewer factors, together with final day out — a 98-95 grinder over Boston on Tuesday.
Miami was with out Jimmy Butler in opposition to the Celtics. Butler has missed 15 of 49 video games this season, however Tuesday’s late scratch due to a again problem was his first day out of the lineup since Dec. 31.
Bam Adebayo, whose 21.6 factors per sport match Butler to steer Miami, picked up the slack with 30 factors in opposition to the Celtics.
Adebayo is averaging 10.2 rebounds a sport and his 1.1 steals sport proceed to contribute to the Heat’s defensive dominance.
“Bam has been a killer all season for us. We go as far as he takes us,” Heat ahead Haywood Highsmith informed the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “He’s one of the best centers in the NBA. He’s definitely an All-Star. … Not only offensively, but defensively. He’s a two-way guy.”
Tuesday marked Adebayo’s fourth 30-plus-point sport since Dec. 31, and his eighth double-double since Jan. 2.
Tyler Herro, Miami’s third-leading scorer (20.5) has been in one thing of a chilly spell. He completed with 9 factors in opposition to the Celtics and is 6-of-34 (17.6%) from past the arc since Jan. 16.
