ORLANDO – You don’t have to think too hard to know what you’ll get when you face the Miami Heat. Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris noted the challenge of facing the Heat (15-12) and what it will take to beat the reigning Eastern Conference champions when they face them at home on Wednesday.
“They circle in a protective manner. We will need to have the same understanding. We have to keep holding down home court like we have done throughout the entire year.”
With 112 points allowed per game, Miami is ranked tenth.
The Magic (16-9) have been among the better teams at home, finishing 11-2; but, one of those defeats came against the Atlanta Hawks in Mexico City. Orlando’s only home defeat came at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks.
Only the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks have better records at home in the Eastern Conference. Boston is 14-0, including back-to-back wins over the Magic, and the Bucks are 14-2.
Orlando has won nine straight games at home, which includes wins over the Celtics, Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers. In that stretch, the Magic have scored an average of 122.3 points per game compared to allowing 94.8.
The Heat is 8-6 and had won two straight on the road before playing their last four games at home. Miami will be without forward Jimmy Butler, who suffered a left calf injury in its 112-108 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.
Orlando hosts Miami on Wednesday at the Amway Center at 7 p.m. ET.
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