Heat put together balanced effort in topping Magic

Field Level Media|published: Wed 20th December, 21:59 2023

Dec 20, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) shoots a layup against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at KIA Center. credits: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Herro had 28 points to lead seven scorers in double figures as the visiting Miami Heat hit 15 3-pointers in a 115-106 win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

Bam Adebayo scored 18 points and Haywood Highsmith added a season-high 15 for Miami, which led by as many as 24 and snapped Orlando's nine-game home winning streak. Josh Richardson, Duncan Robinson and Thomas Bryant each scored 12 points, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 10.

Herro chipped in eight rebounds and seven assists while shooting 10-for-17 from the field, including 4-for-5 from 3-point range.

Cole Anthony paced Orlando with 20 points off the bench. Franz Wagner added 15 points, Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner scored 11 apiece and Paolo Banchero finished with 10 points on 2-of-12 shooting.

Miami led by one with 5:46 left in the second quarter before taking a 68-50 lead into the break. The Heat made five 3-pointers during a 27-10 run to close the first half.

The Heat maintained a double-digit advantage for much of the second half and finished the game shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 51.7 percent from 3-point range.

Orlando lost for the fifth time in its past seven games while shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 9-for-36 (25 percent) from beyond the arc.

Herro set the tone early by scoring Miami's first seven points of the game, and the Heat led 25-24 at the end of the opening quarter.

Orlando was just 3-for-14 (21.4 percent) from 3-point range in the first half compared to 11-for-18 (61.1 percent) for Miami.

Orlando's perimeter shooting woes carried into the third quarter, when they shot 2-for-10 (20 percent) from deep. The Heat took an 89-72 lead into the final period.

Highsmith matched his career high with four 3-pointers for Miami, which extended its lead to 106-82 on Richardson's trey with 5:30 remaining in the game. Orlando used a 22-5 run to make things interesting in the final minutes.

Orlando center Wendell Carter Jr. returned after missing 20 games due to a fractured finger and finished with eight points and six rebounds in 23 minutes.

—Field Level Media

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