Magic at Heat
THE STORY: Now that Dwight Howard is locked in for the rest of the season, the Orlando Magic can get back to the business of chasing down the Miami Heat in the Southeast Division. Four games behind, the Magic have a chance to knock off a full game Sunday when they visit the Heat. Miami lost at Orlando in overtime on Tuesday as part of a two-game slide before bouncing back at Philadelphia.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN 3, SUN (Miami), FSFL (Orlando)
ABOUT THE MAGIC (29-16): Howard’s trade talk dominated the last few weeks and most of the regular season until Thursday, when the All-Star center signed away his right to opt-out of his contract this summer. Orlando has been strangely unaffected by the trade chatter on the court and celebrated the news that the team would remain intact with another victory, 86-70 over the New Jersey Nets on Friday. The Magic have won 13 of their last 18 games and are knocking off the tough teams on the schedule. Howard dominated Miami on Tuesday, piling up 24 points and 25 rebounds as the Magic came from 14 points down to grab a 104-98 triumph.
ABOUT THE HEAT (32-11): Miami has struggled against the better teams on its schedule, falling to the Bulls and Magic in succession before recovering on Friday. Not only did the Heat have trouble with Howard on Tuesday, but they allowed Jameer Nelson to score 25 points and struggled to contain Nelson and J.J. Redick on the perimeter. They did a better job in that area Friday, holding Philadelphia to 35.5 percent shooting in an 84-78 triumph. The Heat are three games behind Chicago for the top spot in the East.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Magic have taken two of three in the series this season, with the setback coming at Miami 90-78 on Feb. 19.
2. Heat F LeBron James has been held to 18.0 points on 34.2 percent shooting in the two losses to Orlando.
3. Magic G Jason Richardson (ankle) returned to the lineup on Friday after a three-game absence.