Paolo Banchero, Magic stay hot, cool off rival Heat
Paolo Banchero posted 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the visiting Orlando Magic defeated the Miami Heat for the fifth straight time 121-117 on Saturday night.
Orlando led by as many as 22 but needed two Wendell Carter Jr. free throws with 11 seconds left to help put Miami away. Banchero added two free throws with 7.8 seconds left.
Desmond Bane added 21 points for the Magic, who have won seven straight. Carter scored 15, Jalen Suggs added 14 and Jamal Cain chipped in 12 as the Magic swept the season series 5-0.
Miami, which had its seven-game win streak snapped, was led by Bam Adebayo, who had 20 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 22 points, seven assists and three steals. Fellow reserve Norman Powell had 20 points and Pelle Larsson scored 13 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter.
Miami got two of its top three scorers back as Tyler Herro (quadriceps) and Powell (groin) returned after missing a combined nine games, seven by Powell. Herro had just 10 points on 4-for-14 shooting from the field.
The Heat remain without fourth-leading scorer Andrew Wiggins, who has missed five straight games due to a toe injury.
Orlando won without two of its top four scorers: Franz Wagner (ankle) and Anthony Black (back).
The Magic jumped out to a 14-6 lead and continued to play well, taking a 41-27 lead at the end of the first quarter. Orlando shot 69.6% from the field in the quarter compared to 38.1% for Miami.
In the second quarter, Orlando shot 52.2% overall and 4 of 9 on 3-point attempts and went into halftime with a 71-55 lead. Miami made 44.0% in the second quarter, including 2 of 10 from deep.
The Magic survived a slump in third, shooting just 38.1% overall, including 1 of 6 on 3-pointers. Despite the struggles, Orlando entered the fourth leading 98-83.
In the fourth, Miami cut its deficit to 117-111 with 1:07 left on a Jaquez three-point play. After a Magic miss, Larsson made two free throws with 43.2 seconds left.
On Orlando's next possession, Tristan da Silva dribbled the ball between his legs and out of bounds.
However, Larsson was called for a turnover failing to inbound the ball within five seconds.
Suggs missed two free throws, allowing Miami to cut the margin to 117-115 on a pair of Jaquez foul shots with 18.5 ticks remaining. But the Magic held on for the win.