Miami Heat take first intrastate matchup of the season over Magic, 110-105
Looking at the Miami Heat schedule, one would’ve thought Friday night was an easy win looking at the two teams coming into the game. Facing off against the, 19-29, Orlando Magic, the 13th-placed team in the Eastern Conference, they surely wouldn’t challenge the Miami Heat, right?
Well, there are a couple of things that go into that if you know anything about this intrastate rivalry. First, is to know that it is always a tough matchup with the Orlando Magic.
They know that the Miami Heat are the big brothers of the state and they always bring their best. Secondly, this Orlando Magic team is actually pretty talented.
Led by the talented rookie, Paolo Banchero, among other talented young players like Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony, and Franz Wagner, they have some stuff over there. And to speak to the talent, they beat the Boston Celtics twice this season, with the most recent being earlier in the week before facing off against the Miami Heat.
The Miami Heat always have tough matchups with their in-state neighbors, the Orlando Magic. So, throw out the records and just strap up when they meet.
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And needless to say, the game backed up all that’s been said here.
The Miami Heat were able to go up early, but the Orlando Magic would strike back, going up themselves by double digits throughout the first part of the first half. But the Miami Heat would pull back close by halftime.
With the game remaining in toggle throughout, the Miami Heat were able to pull it out in the end over their little brothers in the state and largely, due to the performance of a returning Jimmy Butler.
Stating that he would be playing to reporters a day before the game and after missing the last contest, due to a tweak in pregame warm-ups, he would come out to lead his team in all facets. Leading them with his mentality and on the scoring sheet, he would finish with 29 huge points to go along with six rebounds and six assists.
Jimmy Butler and his Miami Heat would add another win to their tally, taking them to 28-22, six games above .500. Again, always a tough task when they play Orlando Magic, this was really a good hard win in all actuality and specifically for the Miami Heat due to their relationship with the opposition here.
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They’ll get a day break before going right back at it Sunday afternoon in a matchup with the Hornets at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.