RealGM

The unrest of the animated Skiles is rubbing off on Orlando, which won for the fifth time in six games with Wednesday's 104-101 victory over Houston in the opener a four-game homestand. After drawing within eight of last season's win total, they still weren't entirely happy over nearly coughing up a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead.

"It's true we won the game, but the way we did it, I thought we could have done a little better," Evan Fournier said. "We struggled defensively in the fourth quarter."

The Magic were outscored 27-17 in the final 12 minutes, but one of the NBA's best defenses has still allowed an average of 96.2 points over the last six games.

The offense, meanwhile, is rolling and has shot 51.0 percent while averaging 105.2 points in the same span. The club has turned the ball over just 49 times in its last four contests while forcing 65 giveaways.

Miami followed three straight victories by alternating wins and losses on a 2-2 homestand that concluded with a 94-88 overtime win over New Orleans on Christmas. Three days after wasting an 18-point lead in a 93-92 loss to Detroit, the Heat nearly gave up a 13-point edge as they opened a stretch of four games in five days.

Miami shot 39.0 percent for 78 points through regulation but made 3 of 6 shots in overtime. Chris Bosh went 11 for 25 to match a season high with 30 points while grabbing 10 rebounds, but the rest of his teammates shot 38.1 percent. Hassan Whiteside grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds and blocked four shots.


"Just an ugly game by both teams, but in this league you've got to win the pretty ones and the ugly ones," said Dwyane Wade, who scored 19 points.

Imafoo1 wrote:Anyone hear if Elf will be good to go?

rcklsscognition wrote:

Imafoo1 wrote:Anyone hear if Elf will be good to go?

Normal starters tonight.

FloridaHoosier wrote:At the game in the nosebleeds. Go Magic! I'll be fine as long as there are not too many Heat fans around me and no one taps me on the back and tells me to sit down during player intros!


"Don't let the pressure exceed the pleasure."

FloridaHoosier wrote:At the game in the nosebleeds. Go Magic! I'll be fine as long as there are not too many Heat fans around me and no one taps me on the back and tells me to sit down during player intros!


"Don't let the pressure exceed the pleasure."

SOUL wrote:1. They have the longest winning streak in our Arena. Let's stop that.

2. They're on a B2B and old, use our advantage!

3. Bosh owns our soul, but we broke the Ariza curse last game.

FloridaHoosier wrote:At the game in the nosebleeds. Go Magic! I'll be fine as long as there are not too many Heat fans around me and no one taps me on the back and tells me to sit down during player intros!


"Don't let the pressure exceed the pleasure."