In a thrilling matchup on Thursday night, Tyler Herro's clutch jumper with just 0.5 seconds remaining secured a narrow 89-88 victory for the Miami Heat against the Orlando Magic. Herro's performance was pivotal, as he contributed 20 points, helping Miami overcome a significant early deficit of 17 points. This game marked a crucial moment for the Heat, who were looking to bounce back after a disappointing loss to the same team just a week prior, where they had squandered a massive 22-point lead in the fourth quarter.
The game was a rollercoaster, with Jalen Suggs leading the Magic with a stellar 29 points but ultimately falling short as he missed a long-range shot at the buzzer. Miami's Alec Burks also stepped up, scoring 11 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 15 points. The Heat managed to shoot an impressive 15 for 30 from beyond the arc, including six crucial three-pointers in the final quarter, despite missing their star player Jimmy Butler for the third consecutive game.
On the other hand, the Magic struggled offensively, particularly in the latter stages of the game. After a strong start with 31 points in the first quarter, they faltered, finishing with only 88 points overall. The team shot poorly from three-point range, hitting only 5 of 29 attempts, which kept them at the bottom of the league in that statistic. A late tip-in by Goga Bitadze gave the Magic a brief lead, but Miami's resilience shone through as they capitalized on Orlando's 23 turnovers, including nine in the crucial fourth quarter.
Looking ahead, the Heat will face the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, while the Magic will host the New York Knicks on Friday, both teams eager to improve their standings in the competitive NBA landscape.
