Miami Heat Trying to Bounce Back at Home

Miami fell for the fourth time in six games as they were upended by the Thunder at home Wednesday night in their previous contest. The Heat fell to 21-16 on the season and are tied with the Magic for the top spot in the Southeast Division standings. They were eighth in the Eastern Conference standings, half a game behind Cleveland for the final guaranteed playoff spot and 5.5 games clear of 11th-place Atlanta to remain in the play-in tournament field. Against Oklahoma City, Miami led by as many as 10 in the opening quarter and by six after the first quarter. They led by four at the half, trailed by three after three quarters and gave up a 13-0 run to start the fourth quarter, putting them down 16. The Heat never got closer than six the rest of the way to wind up with the loss. Miami shot 46.1% from the field, including 15 of 36 from three-point range, but allowed the Thunder to shoot 59.3% in the contest. Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 25 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in the loss.

The Heat enters this one 23rd in the league in scoring offense with 112.9 points per game this season. Miami is 26th in the league in rebounding with 41.4 boards a contest while the team stands 15th in assists by dishing out 26.2 dimes a night. The Heat stands 11th in the league in scoring defense as they allow 112.1 points per game. Jimmy Butler is third on the team with 21 points, five rebounds and 4.5 assists per contest. Tyler Herro kicks in a team-high 22.4 points plus 5.3 boards a night while Bam Adebayo chips in 22.1 points plus 10.4 rebounds per contest. Duncan Robinson (13.9 points), Kyle Lowry, Josh Richardson (10 points), Kevin Love (10.3 points), Thomas Bryant, Jaime Jaquez Jr. (13.9 points), Caleb Martin (11 points) and Haywood Highsmith are solid role players for the Heat. Miami is 19th in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 46.9% from the floor this season. The Heat stands 14th in threes per game by draining 12.9 triples per contest and the team is 3rd in three-point shooting by hitting 38.6% from beyond the arc.

Orlando Magic Looking to Regain Sole Possession of Top Spot in Southeast Division

Orlando saw their two-game win streak snapped as they were knocked off by Minnesota in blowout fashion at home in their previous contest Tuesday night. The Magic entered Thursday 21-16 on the season and stood tied with the Heat for the top spot in the Southeast Division. They were eighth in the Eastern Conference standings, half a game behind Cleveland for the final guaranteed playoff spot and 5.5 games clear of 11th-place Atlanta to remain in the play-in tournament field. Against Minnesota, Orlando trailed 11-0 out of the gate and never recovered in the contest. The Magic trailed by 17 after the opening quarter, by 30 at the half and by as many as 34 in the game as they went down to defeat. Orlando shot 36.2% from the field, including 13 of 42 from three-point range, and allowed Minnesota to shoot 53.8% from the floor in the game. Moritz Wagner led the Magic with 21 points and eight boards off the bench in the win.

The Magic enter this game 20th in the league in scoring offense as they average 113.3 points per game on the season. Orlando is 14th in the league in rebounding with 43.8 rebounds per contest while they are 26th in assists by dishing 24.8 dimes a night. The Magic are 10th in the league in scoring defense by allowing 112 points per contest. Paolo Banchero is leading the Magic as he averages 22.9 points plus 7.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists a night on the season. Cole Anthony contributes 13.9 points, 4.4 rebounds plus 3.4 assists a game while Franz Wagner chips in 20.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.9 dimes a contest. Wendell Carter Jr. (8.1 points, 6.4 rebounds), Jalen Suggs (13.7 points, 2.5 assists) and Moritz Wagner (11.5 points, 4.7 rebounds) are solid contributors. Gary Harris, Markelle Fultz (8.7 points, 3.7 assists), Jonathan Isaac, Caleb Houstan, Joe Ingles, Chuma Okeke, Goga Bitadze and Anthony Black all have to contribute for the Magic. Orlando is 18th in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 46.9% from the field on the year. The Magic is 28th in the league in threes per game as they hit 10.9 triples a night while they are 27th in three-point shooting by hitting 34.9% from beyond the arc.