Jimmy Butler’s absence due to illness set the stage for Saturday’s game between the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic. Despite Butler’s absence, the biggest story of the game was the Heat’s collapse after blowing a 25-point lead and being outscored 37–8 in the fourth quarter.
Cole Anthony’s outstanding performance off the bench, scoring 35 points with 27 in the second half, fueled Orlando’s comeback. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 24 points, and Goga Bitadze contributed 18 points with 13 rebounds, leading the Magic to a 121–114 victory. With this win, Orlando improved to 18–12 and extended their lead over Miami in the Southeast Division to three games, holding onto the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference.
Despite a strong start from Miami, including a 22-point lead going into the fourth quarter, the Heat faltered as Orlando mounted a remarkable comeback. The Magic took the lead in the final minutes of the game, securing a surprising victory.
Bam Adebayo and Terry Rozier led the Heat with 23 points each, while Tyler Herro contributed 22 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Without Butler, Dru Smith stepped up with 14 points, but Nikola Jović struggled with only four points after being inserted into the starting lineup.
Orlando faced challenges with key players like Jalen Suggs, Paolo Banchero, and Franz Wagner out due to injuries. Despite this, the Magic managed to pull off an impressive win against the Heat.
The Heat will look to bounce back against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, while the Magic will aim to build on their momentum in a matchup against the Boston Celtics.