Tyler Herro's last-second hoop caps Heat's rally past Magic

Field Level Media|published: Thu 26th December, 21:57 2024

Dec 26, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) handles the ball in front of Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) during the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Tyler Herro drilled a 15-footer with 0.5 seconds left to lift the Miami Heat to an 89-88 win over the host Orlando Magic on Thursday night.

The Magic, who blew a 17-point lead, never trailed until the fourth quarter.

Herro finished with a team-high 20 points as the Heat got revenge on their state rivals after coughing up a 25-point lead in a 121-114 loss to the Magic on Saturday.

Orlando had the opportunity for a last shot, inbounding the ball in the frontcourt to Jalen Suggs, but his long 3-point attempt rimmed out and was ruled to have come after the buzzer. Suggs finished with a game-high 29 points but was just 2-for-11 from 3-point range.

Tristan da Silva had 18 points for Orlando. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 11 points, and Goga Bitadze added 10 points and 14 rebounds.

The Heat got 17 points from Alec Burks and 15 from Jaime Jaquez Jr. Bam Adebayo contributed nine rebounds and a game-high seven assists to go with four points.

Miami was without star Jimmy Butler, who missed his third straight game. With rumors of an impending trade swirling, Heat president Pat Riley issued a statement denying that Butler would be traded.

The Heat were down 10 entering the fourth quarter but got a huge lift off the bench from Burks, who scored 11 in the period. He gave Miami its first lead of the game with a jumper from the elbow with 7:42 left, then added a 3-pointer for an 80-76 lead.

Herro hit a basket to boost Miami's lead to 87-82 with 2:05 to play, but the Magic scored six straight to take the lead when Bitadze tipped a pass to nudge it home.

After a timeout, Herro came through for the Heat.

Miami shot 15 of 30 from 3-point range, while the Magic finished 5 of 29. The teams combined for 35 fouls and 41 turnovers.

Orlando opened the contest on a 14-0 run, with Caldwell-Pope pumping in six early points. Miami's first basket didn't come until after five minutes had elapsed.

The Magic led 52-41 at halftime despite 14 committing first-half turnovers. Suggs had 18 points at the break.

Orlando's franchise record streak of 43 straight made free throws ended in the third quarter when Bitadze missed.

--Field Level Media

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