The Magic Insider

Turnovers, 3-Pointer Disparity Haunt Magic in Last-Second Loss to Heat

The Orlando Magic squandered a double-digit lead thanks to turnovers and poor outside shooting, falling to the Miami Heat 89-88 on Thursday night.

Mason Williams

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) shoots against Orlando Magic guard Cory Joseph (10) during the second half at Kia Center.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) shoots against Orlando Magic guard Cory Joseph (10) during the second half at Kia Center. / Mike Watters-Imagn Images
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ORLANDO, Fla. – Jalen Suggs' final shot swirled the rim and fell to the Kia Center floor.

The fourth-year guard didn't get it off in time. The Orlando Magic felt they shouldn't have been in such a position anyway.

The Magic enjoyed double-digit leads through three quarters, but 23 turnovers and a wide disparity in three-point baskets Thursday night ultimately added up to a stinging loss to the Miami Heat, 89-88.

"That was the game right there," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said postgame. "There's no other way to put it. Twenty-three turnovers, 25 points. You're not giving yourself an opportunity... We talked about it before the game – if we take care of the ball versus this team, get good looks, you give yourself an opportunity. When you turn it over and shoot 17 percent from the three-point line, you're not giving yourself many chances.

"You turn it over 23 times for 25 points, you're not really thinking about that last possession. It's not the last possession that gets you the game. It's the possessions before that you can't get back."

"It's very tough when you give a team extra possessions, second chances to go down and score, and free stops," Jalen Suggs said, who had a game-high 29 points but also seven turnovers. "Giving them seven possessions myself alone is inexcusable, to be honest, if you want to win games. That's all I want to do above, you know, big games, personal stats, whatever — that's what brings me joy. That's what brings this team joy and happiness."

Orlando's night got off to a dream start. The Magic scored the game's first 14 points, drilled their first three triples, and led by as many as 17 after less than eight minutes of play.

But the giveaways and misses accumulated quickly. At one point, Orlando missed 19 consecutive threes — including no makes in the middle two quarters. They finished the evening 5-for-29 from distance while Miami made 15 of 30 three-point attempts.

The Heat refused to stay at arm's length as Orlando's grip on the game slipped, chipping away until they took their first lead with 7:42 to play. Miami's advantage was as big as five with 2:05 remaining.

The Magic mustered one final comeback, reclaiming the lead 88-87 with 4.5 seconds to play after a Goga Bitadze tip-in follow. But Heat guard Tyler Herro had the last laugh.

His fallaway jumper hitting nylon was a clean game-winner on an otherwise messy, low-scoring night.

After rallying from down 22 to defeat this same Heat team five days ago, the Magic on Thursday gave up a 10-point advantage over the final 12 minutes.

The Magic are 19-13 after just their third loss this season at the Kia Center. They had entered the night 9-0 in games where their opponent scored fewer than 100 points. The 177 combined points for both teams are the fewest in any NBA game this year. The Magic have been involved in four of the eight lowest-scoring contests, but Thursday was their first such loss.

After Suggs, rookie Tristan da Silva finished with 18 points and Goga Bitadze had a 10-point, 14-rebound double-double.

Herro finished with 20 points — none bigger than the final two of the night.

Up Next

The Orlando Magic host the New York Knicks on Friday for the second night of a back-to-back. Tipoff is 7 p.m. ET at the Kia Center.

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