Goran Dragic was the Miami Heat’s best player in their loss to the Magic

The only Miami Heat starter with a positive plus-minus in tonight’s loss to the Orlando Magic was Goran Dragic.

Welcome to the Hot Hand, where after every Miami Heat game win or loss we recognize the player who best put his stamp on the game.

Miami Heat point guard Goran Dragic continued his stellar run of play on Tuesday night. He scored 22 points on 6-of-15 shooting, to go with 3 rebounds and 1 assist in 35 minutes of action. Dragic also went 10-for-10 from the foul stripe. It wasn’t enough, however, for the Heat to sneak out a win against a tough Orlando Magic squad. Miami were defeated 116-107 on their home floor.

The team as a whole played well offensively. Miami shot 47 percent from the floor and made 23 of their 27 free throws. Unfortunately, their problem wasn’t with their offense. It was with their complete lack of defense. To give up 116 points to the NBA’s third-worst offensive team (at home, no less) is inexcusable. It may prove costly down the road, as well.

Dragic was the only Heat starter to finish the game with a positive plus-minus. He was a plus-7, while no one else was better than a minus-6. (Rodney McGruder was a minus-22 in 22 minutes, a horrendous clip.) Dragic only got one look from beyond-the-arc — credit the Magic for their stingy defense — but was a terror in transition. He had one of the most exciting sequences of the game.

https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/831319635567984640

Although the loss was deflating, it was good to see Dragic maintain his superb form. The Heat (24-32) now get a day off before their last game prior to the All-Star break. They travel to the Toyota Center to face James Harden and the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. If Miami plays with similar vigor defensively against Houston, they’ll be in store for a long night. Game tips at 8 PM.

Notes

• Another game, another poor effort all around by Hassan Whiteside. As is almost always the case with him, the box score would lead you to believe something different. Whiteside scored 12 points on 7 shot attempts. He also had 19 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Regardless, he was a minus-6 overall, and was yanked for Willie Reed within three minutes of the game starting (due to poor effort).
• James Johnson scored 9 straight points for Miami late in the third quarter, single-handedly willing them back into the game. He would finish the night with 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks.
• There continue to be whispers around the NBA about Pat Riley’s interest in trading for Serge Ibaka. (They may cool down rapidly if the Heat continue to lose, though.) Ibaka — coincidentally? — had a great game tonight, scoring 17 points and pulling down 8 rebounds. He also blocked a shot and hit a three. I have to admit, a potential Whiteside-Ibaka pairing would be a lot of fun.
• For all the positive I wrote about Dragic, I also have to mention the negative: He was probably Miami’s worst defender tonight. Magic point guard Elfrid Payton  abused him to the tune of 20 points (he averages 12.4) on 7-for-15 shooting. Dragic simply struggles to stay in front of opposing point guards with even a hint of athleticisim. And that’s never going to change.
• Dion Waiters returned after missing three games with a bum ankle. He led the Heat in scoring with 23 points. But it took him 19 shot attempts to do so (he went 1-of-5 from three), and he also had 6 turnovers. Nonetheless, it was great to see him back.