Magic Squander Late Leads, Lose in Double Overtime to Heat

The Orlando Magic wasted a 12-point advantage in the final six minutes of regulation, and then a six-point lead in overtime before losing to the Miami Heat, 125-119.

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) drives to the basket against Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center. | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

MIAMI – Midway through the fourth quarter Monday, the Orlando Magic had a 12-point grip on a statement victory over the Miami Heat.

But the Magic's in-state rivals forced overtime with a 17-5 finish in regulation, then rallied from six points down to force another extra period. By then, the Magic's tank was empty. They scored three points in the second overtime and lost 125-119.

The result has potential long-term implications for playoff positioning, but the manner in which the Magic surrendered this one stings the most.

"We gave the game away," Franz Wagner said. "We had multiple chances in regulation and in the first overtime. Down the stretch, I think we struggled offensively, but at the end of the day, it's offensive rebounds [and] bad communication during stretches of the game, not just in those last couple minutes. We've just got to be a little bit better on both sides of the floor."

"I think we let this game get away, and it happened in like one minute," Goga Bitadze said. "The energy shifted and they made some shots as well."

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley pointed to consecutive defensive breakdowns, each resulting in made triples from Miami's Duncan Robinson, as the spark that helped the Heat claw back in regulation.

The Magic compounded their troubles with 10 missed free throws and 15 turnovers for 29 Heat points.

"You've got to play every possession as good as you can, and I thought we had lapses, not just in important moments, but earlier in the game as well," Wagner said.

Wagner finished with a team-high 29 points and Paolo Banchero had 17, but they also accounted for eight of the Magic's turnovers — seven of which came in the fourth quarter and the extra periods.

The Magic used only nine players in their rotations and Bitadze, who was on a minutes restriction, sat out both overtimes. The extra workload and the limited substitution options left the Magic's half-court offense gassed.

"In those moments, it becomes difficult to throw a different body in there because of rhythm, flow, [and] the timing of the game," Mosley said. "I think those guys tried to do their best in those moments of communicating with each other."

Added Mosley: "Was their fatigue a factor? A little bit, but at the same time, so was [Miami's]."

Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 14 points, as did Anthony Black. Jonathan Isaac had 12 points off the bench, and Bitadze returned from six missed games due to concussion protocol and contributed 10 points and nine rebounds.

Tyler Herro poured in 30 points and 12 assists for the Heat, and Bam Adebayo finished an assist away from a triple-double after adding 26 points and 10 rebounds.

Each team was missing key pieces. The Magic's Jalen Suggs sat out with a left quad contusion. The Heat's Jimmy Butler was suspended for a third time this month for a continued pattern of disregard of team rules, conduct detrimental to the team and intentionally withholding services.

Orlando, now 24-24, split the season series with the Heat and missed an opportunity to gain a potential head-to-head tiebreaker advantage for postseason seeding.

The Magic are seventh in the East with 34 games to play — a half-game behind Miami for the final guaranteed playoff position.

Up Next

The Magic begin a five-city West Coast trip on Thursday at Portland. Tipoff is 10 p.m. ET.

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