The Miami Heat are set to face the red-hot Orlando Magic on Tuesday night in the biggest game of the season for both teams.
For the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic, the playoffs begin on Tuesday, March 26th. Separated now by just half a game in the standings, the eighth-place Heat will host the ninth-place Magic in the biggest game of the season for both teams, essentially playoff game one.
The Magic are coming off a blowout victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, a 119-98 demolition which was barely in doubt after the midway point of the third quarter. The Sixers were without Ben Simmons, but otherwise were healthy, so this was a remarkable win.
The Magic are on a five-game winning streak, and they’re not just winning, they’re crushing teams. Over this stretch the Magic are outscoring their opponents by 18 points per 100 possessions, obviously an unsustainable rate but it indicates just how dominant they’ve been lately at a time that matters most.
So far this season the Magic starting lineup of D.J. Augustin, Evan Fournier, Jonathan Isaac, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic has been solid, outscoring opponents by 4.9 points per 100, but over this five-game streak this unit has carried the load for their team, making up most of their overall differential with a +17.6 net rating.
The Magic will enter this game mostly healthy with just Markelle Fultz on the injury report.
As for the Miami Heat, they’re in worse shape. Justise Winslow has missed the last five games with a bruised thigh and is questionable for this game with both the bruise and food poisoning, and Rodney McGruder is out with a knee injury which has sidelined him for the last four games.
Orlando Magic projected starters
- Point guard, D.J. Augustin
- Shooting guard, Evan Fournier
- Small forward, Jonathan Isaac
- Power forward, Aaron Gordon
- Center, Nikola Vucevic
Miami Heat projected starters
- Point guard, Derrick Jones Jr./Justise Winslow
- Shooting guard, Dion Waiters
- Small forward, Josh Richardson
- Power forward, Kelly Olynyk
- Center, Bam Adebayo
This critical game between these divisional rivals will tip off at 7:30 PM Eastern on Tuesday night.