ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tyler Herro sealed a dramatic 89-88 victory for the Miami Heat over the Orlando Magic on Thursday night with a clutch 19-foot jumper with just 0.5 seconds remaining in the game.
Jalen Suggs, who had a standout performance for the Magic with 29 points, missed a potential game-winning shot at the buzzer.
Herro, who contributed 20 points in the game, played a significant role in the Heat’s comeback from a 17-point deficit early in the game. This win also served as redemption for Miami, who had suffered a loss to the Magic just last Friday after squandering a massive 22-point fourth-quarter lead.
Alec Burks was instrumental in the Heat’s victory, scoring 11 of his 17 points in the crucial fourth quarter, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. chipped in with 15 points.
For the Magic, Tristan da Silva led the scoring with 18 points and added six rebounds to his stat line.
In a game where both teams showcased their resilience, the Heat managed to overcome the absence of key player Jimmy Butler for the third consecutive game. The team’s sharpshooting from beyond the arc, making 15 out of 30 three-point attempts, including six in the fourth quarter, proved to be decisive.
On the other hand, the Magic struggled offensively, only putting up 88 points for the game, with a meager 5-for-29 shooting performance from three-point range, highlighting their deficiency in long-range scoring.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Goga Bitadze’s tip-in gave the Magic a one-point lead with just 4.9 seconds left on the clock. However, Tyler Herro seized the opportunity, finding an open look and sinking the game-winning shot to secure the victory for Miami.
Despite a rocky start, falling behind 14-0 early on, due to turnovers and missed shots, the Heat managed to capitalize on the Magic’s mistakes, forcing a total of 23 turnovers, including nine in the fourth quarter alone.
Looking ahead, the Heat will face the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, while the Magic will host the New York Knicks on Friday in the continuation of their respective campaigns.
