Magic 104, Heat 98 (OT)
MAGIC 104, HEAT 98 (OT): Jameer Nelson scored a season-high 25 points and Dwight Howard had 24 points and matched a season-best with 25 rebounds as Orlando defeated visiting Miami in overtime.
J.J. Redick scored 17 points and Ryan Anderson had 16 points and 12 rebounds as the Magic won their third straight game amid rampant Howard trade speculation.
Dwyane Wade scored 28 points, Chris Bosh added 23 points and LeBron James had 19 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for the Heat, which had a three-game winning streak snapped.
The Magic trailed by as many as 14 points before rallying in what could turn out to be Howard’s final home game as a member of the franchise if he is dealt prior to Thursday’s deadline.
Orlando trailed by 13 early in the second half before using a 19-5 run to take a 71-70 lead on Redick’s 3-pointer with one minute left in the quarter.
The contest was close the rest of the way. Nelson hit a 3-pointer with 44 seconds left in regulation to give Orlando a 94-91 lead and Wade tied the score by connecting on a 3-pointer with 38.9 seconds left.
Howard, who was just 6 of 18 from the line, hit two free throws 97 seconds into overtime to put the Magic ahead to stay.
Miami ripped off 20 consecutive points over a five-minute stretch of the second quarter to turn a six-point deficit into a 55-41 advantage. James scored nine points and James Jones hit two 3-pointers during the run.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Howard has nine 20-rebound games this season and two of them have come against Miami. … Bosh had scored a combined 22 points on 9-of-27 shooting over the previous two games. … Orlando guard Jason Richardson (ankle) missed his second consecutive contest. … The Heat are 13-8 on the road.