Postgame grades: Miami Heat crush the Magic
By Simon Smith
The Miami Heat enjoyed their return to AmericanAirlines Arena with a convincing win over the Orlando Magic.
77. 38. 107. 110. Final
Goran Dragic led all scorers with 17 points as the Miami Heat cruised to a commanding 107-77 win over the Orlando Magic. Newcomer Willie Reed, starting in the absence of Hassan Whiteside, had his best game for the Heat with 16 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. The Heat led 76-62 through three quarters before a 31-15 final term saw them runaway with the win.
Dion Waiters continued his impressive preseason with 15 points, whilst Tyler Johnson again showed his efficiency off the bench contributing 15 points and four assists.
The Heat shot 51.2 percent from the field whilst holding the Magic to just 33.7 percent from the field. The Heat also hit at a 41 percent clip from three-point range and won the battle on the boards, 46-42.
Newcomer James Johnson impressed in his nine minutes with six points, three rebounds and three blocks before leaving the game with a slight foot complaint.
The Heat rested starters Whiteside and Justise Winslow. Josh Richardson again sat out to continue rehabbing his recent knee injury, whilst reserve forwards Josh McRoberts (foot) and Luke Babbitt (groin) were also sidelined.
Wayne Ellington filled in for Winslow, hitting 4-of-6 from behind three for 14 points. The three-guard lineup has featured at various points of the preseason, but this was the first time as a starting unit.
B+. Dragic continued his impressive preseason form with 17 points, five assists and four rebounds in 27 minutes of court time. Shooting 8-of-13 from the field, Dragic maintained his aggressive play and set the tone for the rest of the team.. PG. Miami Heat. GORAN DRAGIC
B+. Waiters appears to have won the starting shooting-guard position, again impressing in a starting role. Waiters finished with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting, along with three rebounds and two steals in 27 minutes. Waiters’ decision making has really stood out, whereby he is making an impact whilst still working within the structure of the offence.. SG. Miami Heat. DION WAITERS
A. Reed has improved each game as he has gotten more accustomed to his new teammates and the Heat’s culture as a whole. Head coach Erik Spoelstra couldn’t have asked for more than Reed’s 16 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in 29 minutes of court time. This game was certainly highly encouraging for both Reed and the Heat.. C. Miami Heat. WILLE REED
B+. Ellington continued to enjoy his license to shoot, despite play at the three-spot. Ellington contributed 14 points including 4-of-6 from behind three. Most notable was that he was a +33 in his 30 minutes of action. This clearly indicates that Ellington ability to space the floor not only helps him but also the rest of the team.. SF. Miami Heat. WAYNE ELLINGTON
B-. Williams appears to have clinched the starting spot made available via the departure of Chris Bosh. Williams contributed eight points and seven rebounds in 27 minutes of play. Williams’ versatility and athleticism were again on show, which gives Coach Spoelstra many alternatives to work with come the regular season.. PF. Miami Heat. DERRICK WILLIAMS
TYLER JOHNSON. A. Johnson once again showed his affinity with coming off the bench to provide a spark for the Heat. Johnson had 15 points and four assists in 24 minutes of action. Since returning to the bench for the last three games, Johnson has averaged 15.3 points and 4 assists per game in 22 minutes per game whilst shooting 66.6 percent from the field. This combination of impact and efficiency is a great sign for the Heat.. G. Miami Heat
B. McGruder continues to make strides as he attempts to fallout a spot on the Heat roster. Playing 23 minutes, McGruder had eight points and two assists whilst being an impressive +29 whilst on the floor. It will be interesting to monitor how McGruder fares over the remaining preseason games.. G. Miami Heat. RODNEY MCGRUDER
The Heat have a rest day before traveling to play the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night.