With 18.8 seconds remaining, Bam Adebayo made the game-winning jumper from the free-throw line to help the host Miami Heat defeat the Orlando Magic 99-96 on Friday night.
In the final 11.9 seconds, magic star Paolo Banchero failed to make a short banker. Despite grabbing the rebound, he failed to make the layup that would have put Orlando up.
Banchero missed a 3-pointer from the top of the key as the ball rebounded off the back of the rim, finishing the game after Haywood Highsmith made two free throws. This gave Haywood Highsmith the advantage.
The Heat defeated Orlando for the seventh time in a row in Miami, demonstrating their ongoing dominance over the Magic.
March 2019 was the last time the Magic triumphed in Miami.
Banchero scored 25 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, to lead all scorers. He added six assists and eight rebounds.
Chuma Okeke scored 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc, while Mo Wagner of Orlando scored 19 points off the bench.
Duncan Robinson of Miami led the squad in scoring with 23 points. Adebayo recorded his 12th double-double of the year with an additional 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Jaime Jaquez Jr., a rookie with the Heat, scored 19 points. Two of Miami’s top three scorers, Jimmy Butler (toe injury) and Tyler Herro (shoulder), were out for the game. And Kyle Lowry (hand) did not play.
Orlando was without Jonathan Isaac (hamstring), Gary Harris (calf), Wendell Carter Jr. (knee), and second-leading scorer Franz Wagner (ankle).
After missing seven straight games due to ankle injury, Joe Ingles of Orlando and Caleb Martin of Miami both made a full recovery. With 11 points, Martin and Ingles each had 14.
Miami had a 30-22 lead after going on a 7-0 run in the last minute of the first quarter. With nine first-quarter points, Robinson led Miami. At the half, Orlando’s deficit was 56-55 after going 5-for-13 from 3-point range in the second quarter. Jaquez scored 15 points to lead all first-half scorers.
Miami took a 75-73 lead at the end of the third quarter as they continued to gain ground.
Banchero gave Orlando a 96-95 lead with a turnaround baseline jumper over Josh Richardson with 38.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
However, Adebayo returned to crush Wagner with his massive jumper, and Banchero’s misses cemented Orlando’s loss. Miami had a 52–38 advantage in paint points in the end.
