Paolo Banchero delivered 31 points and 12 rebounds as the Orlando Magic beat the Miami Heat 133-124 on Wednesday night at Kaseya Center to halt a four-game losing streak.
Anthony Black added 26 points on efficient shooting, while Desmond Bane finished with 23 points on 10-of-16 from the field as Orlando improved to 3-0 against Miami this season.
The contest began with a seven-minute delay after officials determined one of the rims was uneven, but the Magic quickly settled into rhythm and relied on ball movement throughout the night.
Orlando trailed by nine at halftime before flipping the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Heat 40-20 to seize control. Banchero scored 13 points in the period, and Black contributed 10 as the visitors forced seven turnovers and dominated the offensive glass.
The Magic built a 121-104 lead midway through the fourth quarter following a decisive 14-0 run that stretched Miami’s defense and opened the floor for shooters.
The Heat responded with a late push and closed within 128-122 after a three-point play by Norman Powell with 1:25 remaining, but Banchero and Jalen Suggs combined to make four free throws in the final minute to secure the outcome.
Suggs finished with 16 points, while Orlando posted 36 assists on 52 made field goals and shot 16-of-38 from beyond the arc. The Magic also committed only seven turnovers in the win.
Franz Wagner missed his fourth straight game for Orlando due to a left ankle sprain, yet the club’s depth helped offset his absence.
Simone Fontecchio led Miami with 23 points in 19 minutes off the bench, including six three-pointers. Powell scored 22 points, and Bam Adebayo recorded 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Heat.
Miami played without Tyler Herro because of a rib injury and Davion Mitchell due to a shoulder sprain, limiting backcourt options during key stretches.
The Heat erased a 14-point deficit late in the first quarter and outscored Orlando by 16 in the second to take a 68-59 lead at the break. Fontecchio scored 14 points in the period to fuel the surge.
With the victory, the Magic improved to 24-22 and remained seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. Miami fell to 25-23 and stayed eighth, with both teams tied 10.5 games behind Detroit.
Orlando returns home to host the Toronto Raptors on Friday. Miami travels to Chicago on Thursday in a game rescheduled from Jan. 8, beginning a stretch of three meetings with the Bulls in four days.
