After blowing a 25-point lead to the Orlando Magic on Saturday, the Miami Heat have a chance to get revenge when they play again on Thursday.
“We owe them one,” said Miami guard Tyler Herro after the Heat’s 110-95 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday.
In Saturday’s game, Orlando lost Mo Wagner to a torn ACL after he drove to the basket in the first quarter. The Magic were already without their star Paolo Banchero and Mo’s brother Franz, both dealing with oblique injuries.
There’s some good news for Orlando, though, as Banchero started some light conditioning work last week, but there is still no clear return date for him.
The three injured players score over 66 points per game for Orlando, but the Magic have still managed to win their last two games and are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Wagner’s injury added to what became one of the most exciting games of the season. Orlando made a franchise-record comeback, outscoring the Heat 37-8 in the fourth quarter to win 121-114. Orlando then followed up with a 108-104 victory over the Celtics after trailing by 15 points at halftime.
“It’s a fighting group, it’s a gritty group, it’s a confident group that believes in themselves,” said Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley. “They’ve given themselves a chance to be successful. It’s by committee, we say that a lot. That’s who this group is. They’re going to do it by committee every night.”
Orlando’s defense has been a key factor, as they allow the second-fewest points in the NBA at 103.9 per game and are tied with the San Antonio Spurs for the most blocked shots in the league, with 7 per game.
“That is this group,” Mosley said. “I don’t think there is any other way to put it. I think that’s what they have shown. They continue to prove it. They believe in one another.”
Orlando’s depth has also played a role in their success. First-round pick Tristan Da Silva scored 18 points, including a crucial 3-pointer in the win over Boston. Trevelin Queen came up from the G-League and tied his career high with 17 points.
“He’s not afraid of big moments, not afraid to take on challenges,” Mosley said of Queen. “That’s who he is. It’s why we talk about him going back and forth to Osceola, because that’s the environment that we have created.”
The Heat have been hovering around .500 this season. Star guard Jimmy Butler, averaging 18.5 points per game, has been out with an illness and missed the past two games. ESPN reported on Wednesday that Butler would like to be traded before the Feb. 6 deadline.
Terry Rozier also missed the Heat’s win over the Nets with a knee injury.
Miami’s defense has been solid, allowing 109.4 points per game, which ranks sixth in the NBA. Herro has been the team’s top scorer, averaging a career-high 23.9 points per game.
“I think we haven’t played bad basketball,” said Herro. “We continue to show pieces of good offense and good defense in different sections of the game, but we have to stay focused and consistent in our game and our identity for a full 48 minutes.”
Orlando has won both games against the Heat this season. Thursday’s game is the fifth of a seven-game homestand for Orlando.
