Magic snap Heat's winning streak despite late comeback attempt

Adam Lichtenstein, South Florida Sun Sentinel on Mar 14, 2026

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MIAMI — The Magic have the Heat’s number this season.

Five times, the in-state rivals have faced off this year. All five times, the Magic picked up the win. Saturday was no different, as Orlando took down Miami, 121-117, at the Kaseya Center despite a late comeback attempt form the home team. The loss snapped the Heat’s seven-game winning streak.

Orlando (38-28) controlled the game from the first quarter until the final few minutes. The Magic got off to a quick start, taking a 14-5 lead in the game’s first four minutes. Orlando rolled through the first quarter, shooting 70% from the field en route to a 41-27 lead after 12 minutes.

The story was the same through the second quarter, as Jalen Suggs and ex-Miami guard Jamal Cain finished the half with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Although Miami (38-30) went on a short 12-2 run late in the second quarter, Orlando got back into a groove before the half ended and went into the locker room up 71-55.

The Heat had one of their best runs of the night late in the third quarter, shrinking the deficit to fewer than 10 points for the first time since the first quarter. But Miami had dug itself into too deep of a hole to climb all the way out.

The Heat made a desperate comeback attempt in the final minutes of the game, turning the blowout into a nail-biter.

Guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. hit two free throws with 18.5 seconds remaining in the game to cut Miami’s deficit to two points — its smallest deficit since the first quarter. Orlando’s Wendell Carter Jr. knocked down two free throws to extend the Magic’s lead to four, and the Heat could not make up the difference in the final 11 seconds.

Norman Powell landed a dunk with 8.5 seconds left to cut the deficit back to two. But two more free throws — these from Paolo Banchero — ended the Heat’s shot at the win.

Five degrees of Heat from Saturday’s game:

— 1. Streak snapped: Miami’s seven-game winning streak has helped its playoff chances as it fights to avoid the play-in round. But against a conference rival, the Heat came up just short.

Despite the loss, Miami is still in sixth place in the conference.

— 2. Heat health: Miami had Tyler Herro and Powell return to the lineup on Saturday night after missing time with injuries. Additionally, Jaquez played through some hip soreness he suffered pre-game.

Herro finished the night with 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting. Powell got off to a slow start but ended the game with 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting.

Guard Dru Smith, who was previously listed as probable with a right hip contusion before being upgraded to available, did not play.

— 3. Early shooting stars: Orlando was lights out from the field to start the game. The Magic completed the first half with a 60.9 shooting percentage.

Orlando cooled off as the game went on, finishing with a 49.4 shooting percentage. But by the late stages of the game, the Magic had built up enough of a lead to withstand those misses. Paolo Banchero led the way for Orlando with 27 points.

— 4. Strong Jaquez game: Despite dealing with a hip issue that flared up pre-game, Jaquez paced the Heat with 22 points. His two free throws with 18.5 seconds left made it a two-point game.

— 5. Out-boarded: Orlando dominated Miami on the glass on Saturday.

The Magic had 48 rebounds to the Heat’s 32.