Orlando Magic Guard Gary Harris Ready For 'Tough, Hard-Nosed' Miami Heat
ORLANDO - You don't have to think too hard to know what you'll get when you face the Miami Heat.
Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris noted the challenge of facing the Heat (15-12) and what it will take to beat the reigning Eastern Conference champions when they face them at home on Wednesday.
"You know they're gonna be a tough, hard-nosed team," Harris said. "They fly around defensively. We're gonna have to be on the same page. We got to continue to hold down home court like we have been doing all year."
Gary Harris driving to the basket against the Washington Wizards.
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Miami is 10th in points allowed per game (112).
The Magic (16-9) has been one of the best teams at home, going 11-2, with one of those losses coming in Mexico City against the Atlanta Hawks. Orlando's lone loss at home was against the Dallas Mavericks.
Only the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks have better records at home in the Eastern Conference. Boston is 14-0, including back-to-back wins over the Magic, and the Bucks are 14-2.
Orlando has won nine straight games at home, which includes wins over the Celtics, Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers. In that stretch, the Magic have scored an average of 122.3 points per game compared to allowing 94.8.
The Heat is 8-6 and had won two straight on the road before playing their last four games at home. Miami will be without forward Jimmy Butler, who suffered a left calf injury in its 112-108 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.
Orlando hosts Miami on Wednesday at the Amway Center at 7 p.m. ET.
