The Miami Heat are coming in motivated to even the season series and begin a new winning streak at home, while the Orlando Magic are looking to blowout their Florida neighbours once again.
HOME TEAM: Miami Heat (31-14, 20-2 at home)
The Heat were dealt with a rare loss at home over the weekend when they fell to the LA Clippers, 122-117. The comeback attempt in the final frame was good but it was too late as the lackadaisical third quarter effort buried them deep.
The streak-busting defeat, along with the 105-85 rout from the Magic back in January 4th, should be enough to motivate the Heat to play with a ton of urgency.
Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo will once again headline the charge and be prolific in the stat sheet, followed by solid rotation that’s rounded out by Goran Dragic, Kendrick Nunn, Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinson. Everyone in that list is more than capable of leading the team in scoring at any given night.
Dion Waiters returned to the court against the Clippers and looked decent, scoring 14 points in 18 minutes of action. He should be a solid contributor as well.
ROAD TEAM: Orlando Magic (21-26, 8-16 on the road)
Despite leading by as much as 11 points, the Magic suffered their fifth loss in six games Monday in the hands of the LA Clippers, 112-97. It was also their fourth time in that stretch where they lost in double-digits. The Magic are minus nine in their last six outings – 109.1 PAPG to 100.8 PPG.
The 20-point domination over the Heat weeks back will add a dose of confidence but tomorrow may still be an uphill battle as they are on the will be on the road while being on the back half of a back-to-back.
Key sixth man Terrence Ross (13.5 PPG) will be the man to watch out for along with usual suspects Nikola Vucevic (19 PPG, 11.1 RPG) and Evan Fournier (19.2 PPG). Ross dropped six threes en route to a game-high 25 points in the previous meeting with the Heat.
PREDICTION:
The Heat get back at the Magic with a 110-101 win. They are hungry to redeem themselves and will look to deliver lights out play on both ends.
