It was a party night at the KIA Center last night, with the first Florida derby of 2024 at home on the menu and especially the return of Franz Wagner after around twenty days of absence! The evening was a success as the Magic celebrated with a convincing victory over their neighbor Miami.
Jamahl Mosley's men delivered an encouraging first half, notably with a big passage in the second quarter, marked by furious dunks from Jonathan Isaac and Wendell Carter Jr and concluded by a 3-pointer from Cole Anthony to advance to +9 (36-27). Opposite, the Heat collective is struggling to get into place, with only Bam Adebayo to survive and the Herro-Highsmith pair to save the house at the break (48-46).
Wagner's Ride
Orlando did not disunite, however, delivering a show of aggression in the third quarter to make the difference. As a symbol, it was the ghost, Franz Wagner, who led the charge with two “floaters”, two caviars for a dunk and an alley-oop from Wendell Carter Jr and a 3-pointer to top it all off. Enough to go 13-4 and relegate Miami 10 lengths (68-58).
The locals kept up the pressure with a 3-pointer from Jalen Suggs and 6 points from Moritz Wagner to drive home the point before the start of the fourth quarter (81-69). It was then an 8-0 fueled by Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony which ended the suspense of an almost one-sided match (89-69), since Miami never found ways to disrupt the Magic collective . The 3-pointers of Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr as well as the 2+1 of Franz Wagner finished off the Heat, defeated for the third time in a row (105-87).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– You miss only one being… Since Jaime Jaquez Jr was injured, the Heat have only won one game. It was against the Nets, by a small point. Since then, he has lost three in a row against the Raptors, the Hawks and therefore the Magic.
– Magic’s lesson in aggression. Orlando now has what it takes to rival Miami's DNA in terms of toughness and work ethic. Jamahl Mosley has a team of warriors at his disposal, and they took advantage of the arrival of the Heat to show what they were capable of in this regard. In the end, they completely suffocated Miami with aggression, determination and intensity to swing the match in their favor. To illustrate this domination, we will remember the 87 points conceded in defense. Orlando hadn't done better since the first game of the season against Houston. For Miami, it was quite simply its worst night of the season on offense.
– Victorious return for Franz Wagner. The Magic had missed him a lot and his return did the Floridians a lot of good. For his first after almost three weeks of absence, the German needed half-time before regaining his sensations. We then saw Franz Wagner again, essential to creation and rather skillful for a return premiere. This bodes well for the future as Orlando also began to mark time in his absence.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
