Magic Cast Winning Spell Over Heat

There’s supposed to be no place like home.

However, for the Miami Heat, home has been nothing more than a nightmare.

The Orlando Magic came into Miami and left with a 102-101 victory over the Heat. The loss drops the Heat to 14-18 overall – their first time being four games under .500 since November of 2007 – and 6-12 at home. The Heat finish their seven-game homestand 2-5, and now fall to eighth in the Eastern Conference. The Magic improve to 13-21 and now sit two games behind the Heat.

The Magic were led by Nikola Vucevic, who continues to make a living off manhandling the Heat’s smaller front court, scoring a game high 26 points (on 12 of 17 shooting) and grabbing 9 rebounds.

Victor Oladipo scored 22 points, as he helped polish the Heat off by scoring the last three points late in the game to help seal the win, while Tobias Harris dropped 18 points, and Channing Frye pitched in 13 points off the bench.

Things that pleased me: Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 25 points, on 7 of 14 shooting, and dished out 6 assists. Wade was a handful for the Magic, as his jumpers were falling, and he was forcing his way to the line, as he made all 11 of his free throws. He carried the Heat on his back in the fourth, scoring 15 of the team’s 24 points.

After missing the Heat’s last eight games, Chris Bosh returned to All-Star form, going for 20 points and 8 rebounds. Although he shot less than 50% (8 for 17 shooting), Bosh was aggressive in trying to re-establish himself into the Heat offense.

The resurrection of Danny Granger continues, as he was on fire on Monday night, scoring 21 points off the bench, on 7 of 10 shooting, and hitting 6 of his 7 three-pointers. He’s been able to be the threat off the bench the Heat envisioned when they signed him in the offseason. He’s averaging 16 points over his last three games. The Heat didn’t play James Ennis or Shawne Williams, as Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra is going to ride this Granger hot streak until he combusts into flames.

The Heat shot 52.4% from the field, hit 7 of 14 from downtown, and had three players score over 20 points.

Things that annoyed me:  With all that being said, the Heat lost. This team just can’t get stops. The Magic had their way with Miami’s defense, shooting 53.2% from the field, and 44% from downtown. In the fourth quarter, Orlando shot 60% from the field, scoring 12 of their 25 points in the fourth in the paint, with another 7 coming at the line. They didn’t even have to hit a three in the quarter, as the Magic were carving the Heat’s defense to pieces.

On the other end, the Heat shot 37.5% from the field in the fourth, with only Wade doing any damage. Bosh, Granger, and Luol Deng combined to take six shots in the quarter, as the offense dissolved into standing around and watch Wade operate.

Oladipo scored his 7 fourth quarter points in the last five minutes and fourteen seconds of the game. On the pivotal play of the game, Oladipo was being guarded by Norris Cole, who A) shouldn’t have been out there, and B) shouldn’t have been guarding Oladipo. Naturally, he drove by Cole with ease and drew a foul, setting up Oladipo’s game-winning free throw. Speaking of Cole…

Things that perplexed me so much that I wanted to throw a lamp because Mario Chalmers was involved? 8. I’m combining these last two because they’re one in the same. Cole and Chalmers combined for 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, as neither was much of a factor for the Heat. So of course Coach Spoelstra continues to play them both together for reasons that are only rational to him. When together, they’re a -12.2 per 100 possessions (minimum 150 minutes together).

So it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the Magic outscored the Heat 23-13 when Cole and Chalmers were together from just under five minutes left in the third quarter, to eight and a half minutes remaining in the fourth, when Wade checked back in for Chalmers. From there, Miami was in a dogfight that they would ultimately lose.

What we’ve learned: The Heat are a mess, and even the luxuries of home can’t seem to help. They couldn’t take advantage of a seven-game stretch at home, and now fall to eighth in the East. It’s one thing to lose to Golden State or Houston, but Miami has lost home games to Indiana, Milwaukee, Utah, Philadelphia, and Orlando this season. Even after beating the Cavaliers on Christmas, the Heat trailed the whole game against a very good Memphis team, then failed to close out a young Magic squad that is now breathing down their necks in the East.

The Heat look to close out 2014 on a high note when they go to Indiana to play the Pacers on New Year’s Eve. Maybe being away from home will help.