Magic Musings: Oladipo shakes off slow to help down Heat

By foxsports
Published

Beating the Miami Heat doesn't carry the same cache it once did, but don't tell that to the Orlando Magic.

The Magic ended a 10-game losing streak to the Heat and won in Miami for the first time since March 2011 by pulling out a 102-101 victory Monday night. Nikola Vucevic turned in another stellar performance against the Heat with 26 points, but it was Victor Oladipo who tied the score on a shot high off the glass with less than a minute to go and put the Magic ahead by splitting two free throws with 6.6 seconds remaining.

The Heat had not lost to the Magic since March 2012 and got a lift from the return of Chris Bosh, who missed their previous eight games with a calf injury. But it was Dwyane Wade, who sat out their 99-92 victory in Orlando last month, who threatened to take over the fourth quarter by himself.

During one stretch, Wade accounted for 15 of the Heat's 17 points as they took a 98-95 lead.

In addition to Wade's play, the Heat had an enormous advantage over the Magic in free throws. They went 28 of 40 from the line compared to 9 of 13 for the Magic.

But the Magic shot 53.2 percent from the floor and hit 11 3-point field goals, all in the first three quarters, in winning on the road for the ninth time this season. The Magic also improved their record to 9-1 in games where they have scored at least 100 points.

THE TURNING POINT

Down 101-97 after Danny Granger's 3-pointer with 1:38 remaining, the Magic scored the game's final five points. Oladipo got some late help from Elfrid Payton in defending Wade on the final shot of the game.

THE DIFFERENCE MAKER

Oladipo overcame a first quarter in which he committed four turnovers to finish with 22 points, the sixth time this season he has scored at least 20.

STAT OF THE GAME

The Heat lost despite shooting 52.4 percent from the floor. The Magic's record had been 0-9 in games where their opponents shot 50 percent or better.

WHAT'S NEXT

Tuesday night vs. Detroit, 7 p.m.

You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.