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Magic Close Out 2006 With 29-Point Thrashing of Heat
December 30, 2006 - Amway Arena
1 2 3 4 F
HEAT 27 10 20 11 68
MAGIC 27 21 26 23 97
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Game Time: 7:00 PM ET

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By Matthew Gardner | OrlandoMagic.com

After losses in their three previous games, the Orlando Magic closed out 2006 on a very positive note, running all over the defending world champion Miami Heat. The Magic outscored their Southeast Division rival 70-31 in the final three quarters en route to a 97-68 victory on Saturday night at Amway Arena.

Both teams were within a cast of players. Orlando was without Grant Hill (sore left foot) and Keyon Dooling (strained Achilles), but Miami's missing in action was much more significant as Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade and Jason Williams - three starters - were all out of action. O'Neal (knee) and Wade (right wrist) were not with the team, while Williams was in street clothes for the Heat.

The Magic took advantage of the absentees and defeated Miami for the second time this season. Dwight Howard led Orlando's efforts with 18 points and 10 rebounds in just 30 minutes of action, while Trevor Ariza also had a double-double off the bench with 16 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. Also in double figures for Orlando were Ton Battie (12 points) and Hedo Turkoglu (11 points).

Without its two star players, the Heat struggled to find someone willing to step up and lead the team. They shot just 34 percent from the field with 17 turnovers and were outrebounded 46-33. Jason Kapono led the Heat with 15 points, while Dorell Wright was the only other Miami player in double figures with 12 points.

After a couple of days off, the Magic will return to action on Tuesday when they welcome the Los Angeles Clippers to town.

9:31PM: Bo with a fastbreak dunk and J.J. Redick is fouled on the next possession. He hits both free throws with 39 seconds left and now has a career-high 9 points. This one is in the books as the Magic improve to 18-14 on the season with a runaway 97-68 victory against the Miami Heat. The Baseline Blog wishes everyone a very Happy New Year and we'll see you again in 2007!

9:28PM: J.J.'s showing off that shooting touch tonight. He just faked a three on Kapono and drained a two as the game entered its final two minutes.

9:24PM: J.J. is left wide open and he makes Miami pay by hitting a three. He nows has five points. Kapono hits another three at the other end, but this game has been over for a while now. Orlando's got an 87-64 lead with just 2:37 left. The Magic will end 2006 on a winning note. Bring on 2007 and bring on the L.A. Clippers on Jan. 2.

9:22PM: Redick just hit Ariza for a spectacular alley-oop that just made the crowd go nuts. The Magic lead is now 25 with 4:11 left.

9:19PM: Orlando has all five starters on the bench as Redick, Ariza, Garrity, Outlaw and Arroyo are on the floor. Kapono, who leads Miami with 12 points, is the only starter still on the court for the Heat. He is joined by Chris Quinn, Earl Barron, Robert Hite and Antoine Walker. Walker is 0-for-6 in the game and has yet to score. Travis Diener just replaced Arroyo in the lineup with 5:11 left.

9:16PM: I think Miami just wants to be put out of its misery in this one. The Heat just committed their 15th turnover on a shot-clock violation as the Magic defense didn't allow them anything close to an open look at the basket. There's 6:29 remaining and the Magic have a 21-point lead, 80-59.

9:07PM: The Heat's shooting percentage has dropped to a mere 36 percent and the Orlando lead is now 19 and the Heat are struggling to find anyone willing to step up and take control of this game. They appear quite lost without Wade on the floor.

9:02PM: J.J. Redick and Pat Garrity check in for Orlando. Three quarters in the books and the Magic will head into the final quarter with a 74-57 lead.

8:54PM: Timeout with 2:56 remaining in the third quarter and Orlando still well in control with a 68-52 lead. The Magic have done a much better job taking care of the ball with only five turnovers. They've also connected on 17-of-23 free throw attempts and 3-of-11 three-pointers.

8:50PM: Still a 16 point lead for Orlando (66-50) with 4:42 remaining in the quarter. Miami is shooting just 40 percent and the only thing that has kept them from a complete destruction has been their 6-of-12 shooting from three-point range. Otherwise, this game would be way out of control. Jameer just alley-ooped it into Tony Battie and it's now a 68-50 ballgame.

8:41PM: Kapono hits another three for Miami, but can't keep the momentum going as they turnover the ball on their next possession. Magic get those three points back as Bogans hits a three and the lead returns to 14. I think we are already seeing a bit of frustration on the floor for Miami as Mourning, Payton, Haslem and Kapono have all shown signs of disgust in these opening minutes. Pat Riley was just wiping off his brow after a Miami offensive foul. At the other end, Trevor Ariza got slammed one down against Mourning - one that will surely make the highlight reel. Payton hits a three for Miami, but Hedo Turkoglu hits one for Orlando and the Magic lead is 16 with 6:30 remaining in the quarter.

8:39PM: Magic not looking like they are ready to slow down in the third quarter as they've increased their lead to 14 in the first three minutes of the second half.

8:34PM: Second half now underway and the Magic will be looking to hold onto this 11 point lead. Tony Battie sinks a jumper to increase the lead to 13, but Kapono hits a three on Miami's first possession and the Orlando lead is 10.

8:18PM: Halftime in Orlando and the Magic have a 48-37 lead.

8:05PM: Dwight checks back into the game and quickly makes a bucket to increase the Magic's biggest lead of the night to nine, 40-31. He again is successful on the next possession as Orlando jumps out to a 42-31 lead with 4:14 remaining until halftime. Miami calls a timeout. Dwight now had 14 points and 8 rebounds in 15 minutes of action.

7:57PM: Trevor "Young Skywalker" Ariza thrills the crowd once again with a sky-high dunk. This time, he goes baseline and reverses it on the other side of the rim as the Magic lead goes to 37-31. During the timeout, Udonis Haslem isn't happy about a previous foul he was called for and is hit with a technical. He checks out of the game after receiving his third personal foul with 7:19 left until halftime.

7:52PM: Keith Bogans grabs a rebound off a Miami miss and takes the ball up the floor. He then takes it to the baseline where he finds an opening and goes straight in for a layup to give the Magic a four-point lead, 35-31.

7:44PM: At the end of the first quarter, we got a tie game. Magic 27, Heat 27.

7:37PM: James Posey hits a three to cut the lead to only two and Michael Doleac is then fouled by Ariza and goes to the line. He hits both free throws and the game is tied at 20 with 3:18 remaining in the opening quarter.

7:33PM: One note that I forgot to mention earlier...the Heat are also without Jason Williams tonight, who has been sitting out the second game of back-to-backs. Trevor Ariza checks into the game for Keith Bogans.

7:30PM: Back-to-back buckets and a free throw from Jameer have given the Magic an 18-14 lead at the 4:34 mark. The team then takes advantage of a Miami shot-clock violation as Hedo backs to ball into the basket and finishes with a nice layup to put Orlando ahead, 20-14. Miami calls timeout.

7:25PM: The Magic haven't started particularly well, but they are keeping it close. It's a 14-13 Miami lead with 5:36 remaining in the first quarter. Dwight has gone 4-for-4 from the charity stripe and leads Orlando with six points. The Magic have hit just 4-of-11 from the field. Miami has five each from Mourning and Kapono.

7:18PM: Miami darts out to a 5-0 lead before Orlando gets on the board with a Tony Battie hook shot. Gary Payton connects at the other end to give the Heat another five-point lead. But Keith Bogans connects from three on the next trip down the floor and the Miami lead is only two, 7-5.

7:12PM: Tip-off time from Amway Arena and we've got Dwight Howard at half court ready to battle for the ball with Alonzo Mourning. And the ball goes to...the Heat. First possession for the visitors - Payton gets the ball in to Mourning, who is fouled by Jameer as he goes up for a shot. He makes the first free throw, but not the second. Heat 1, Magic 0. Orlando's first possession, Jameer misses a three and Tony gets the rebound, but also misses his attempt and Miami comes up with the ball.

7:04PM: The starting lineups for tonight's game: For Miami - James Posey, Udonis Haslem, Alonzo Mourning, Jason Kapono and Gary Payton. And for Orlando - Hedo Turkoglu, Tony Battie, Dwight Howard, Keith Bogans and Jameer Nelson.

6:55PM: Welcome to tonight's game - the final contest for the Magic in the year 2006!

Lineup update for the Magic. There will be no Grant Hill or Keyon Dooling for Orlando tonight. Grant will sit out with a sore left foot, while Keyon is battling a strained Achilles and will also rest tonight. James Augustine is the other inactive, which means J.J. Redick and Travis Diener have been activated for tonight's game.

But good news for the Magic is that Miami will be without its two best players. Shaquille O'Neal is still out after nursing his left knee and Dwyane Wade has also been scratched for the second straight night because of a sore right wrist. Wayne Simien, the second-year forward from Kansas, is the other inactive for the Heat. Tip-off in about 17 minutes.

Preview

The Orlando Magic return home tonight to face the Miami Heat and each team might be without one of their key components.

The Magic, after playing the last two games with its starting five after being without one or more starters for the previous eight, could be without Grant Hill tonight. The veteran guard/forward sat out the fourth quarter of last night's 112-111 loss at Washington after injuring a tendon in his left foot. He is questionable for tonight's game at Amway Arena.

On the other end of the court, the Miami Heat - already without Shaquille O'Neal since early November - might be without Dwyane Wade for the second straight game. Wade injured his right wrist this week against Chicago. He did not play in the Heat's 91-81 home loss against the New Jersey Nets.

Florida's two NBA franchises have traveled much different paths in the first two months of this NBA season. After a 13-4 start to the season, the Magic have considerable cooled and now stand at 17-14. The Heat have been without Shaq since the early stages of the season due to a left knee injury and are 13-15 on the season. But without Wade in the lineup, the defending NBA champions are going to have to look elsewhere for the scoring and leadership Miami's big two provide.

The Magic limp into tonight's battle seeking to turn things around after a bitter December turn for the worse. After coming back home from a six-game West Coast road trip with a 4-2 record, spirits were high and Orlando was in the NBA spotlight. But only four wins in the next 14 games have dropped the Magic from the Eastern Conference's best record and sent the team searching for answers. During that stretch, the team was without Hedo Turkoglu (eight games - sprained right ankle) and Jameer Nelson (four games - strained groin) - leaving them two starters short and having to tweak the first and second unit setup that had given the squad so much success during the first month of the season.

TONIGHT’S OPPONENT:
Dec. 30 vs. Miami (Orlando, FL): Orlando is 28-40 vs. Miami (16-18 at home, 12-22 on the road) during regular season action, including 1-0 this season (see recap below)…The teams split 2-2 last season…Orlando is 2-3 vs. Miami in the playoffs (1997 first round)...Orlando has lost 10 of the last 13 in the series overall, lost eight of the last 12 meetings at home, and is 4-11 in the last 15 matchups at Miami…Keyon Dooling went to Dillard High School in Ft. Lauderdale and played in 74 games with Miami during the 2004-05 campaign…Carlos Arroyo played four years at Florida International University…Assistant Coach Morlon Wiley spent time with the Heat during his playing career…For last season’s stats and Magic career numbers vs. Miami, see p. 263 of the media guide…Nov. 24 @ Miami – Magic 107, Heat 104: Grant Hill scored a team-high 24 points, while Dwight Howard tallied 23 points and 12 rebounds, as Orlando edged Miami, 107-104, at AmericanAirlines Arena. Jameer Nelson netted 14 points and Darko Milicic added 11 points and eight rebounds. Miami’s Dwyane Wade led all players with 33 points and 15 assists. There was a combined 74 free throws taken during the contest. Leading 103-102, Hill drained an 18-foot jumper from the baseline with 28.2 seconds remaining to extend the Magic lead to three points. A few possessions later, trailing 106-104, Wade took a fadeaway jumper with 3.9 seconds left, but the shot fell short. Howard made one of two free throws, and the Heat got the ball back for a desperation attempt with 0.4 seconds remaining. Dorrel Wright’s shot from the corner came after the buzzer sounded, and the Magic left with the win.
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. HEAT: 42 pts., Shaquille O’Neal (@ Miami, 11-5-93); Nick Anderson (@ Orlando, 11-16-92)
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. MAGIC: 56 pts., Glen Rice (@ Miami, 4-15-95)
This page automatically refreshes every 60 seconds. The views expressed in the Baseline Blog do not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA, but solely the individual contributing to the Blog.



POSTGAME QUOTES

NEXT HOME GAME:

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Tue., January 2, 7:00PM
Amway Arena
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Orlando Magic Head Coach Brian Hill:
“It is just good to get off the skids here and get a win. Obviously we know it is not a Miami team at full strength, but it is just important for us to finish up ’06 on a positive note. I thought we were going to be stuck on 17 for quite awhile, so it was nice to get that 18th win. I thought all of our guys came with a real sense of purpose tonight, following up on our performance last night in Washington where I thought we played a lot better. To me it is encouraging, the way we have played the last two games.”

On the slow start…
“You always want to get off to a good start. Obviously we were tied at the end of the first quarter; I didn’t think our energy right at the beginning of the game was what it should have been, but we picked it up right after that. We were a little bit lethargic in the first quarter. That could be a little bit of a hangover from last night, getting home as late as we did, but I thought from the middle of the first quarter on we played with a lot more intensity.”

On if this was a must win for the team…
“Well we needed a win for our mental health. Our physical health is what it is. We have got some guys banged up right now, but we needed a win for our own mental health, to feel good about ourselves as we head into this stretch now. We’ve got three more home games before we head out west, and guys can close out ’06 on a positive note and hopefully start off the new year on a positive note.”

On getting to the free throw line and rebounding…
“We made a conscious effort that we had to win two areas that were an absolute must, and that was the free throw game and the rebound game. With Shaq and Wade now, obviously they are a very different team. They are a lot like us, they put a very high premium on getting to the free throw line and out-rebounding their opponents and we thought we had to win those two areas and if we could we would win the game, and we won them fairly decisively. I thought our guys were attacking the basket, and we made a conscious effort to get the ball into Dwight as much as we could.”

On Trevor Ariza’s play…
“He is playing with tremendous confidence, and I will tell you what was even more impressive to me was he is out there on the end of the game and he is still playing harder than anyone else in the arena, and that’s what I love about Trevor. Every minute he is out there on the floor, he gives you every ounce of energy he has got in his body. He didn’t care if he was playing with the first group or the second unit, he was playing as hard as he could possibly play. He is playing with a lot of confidence, he is attacking the basket, he is making his open shots, he rebounds. Right now, I would have to say he is probably the best defender on our team. He is really starting to come into this own and find his niche on our team.”

Orlando Magic Forward/Center Dwight Howard:
“It was great, we needed a victory. We seemed to be stuck on 17 for like forever. We really needed this one.”

(On the team’s play in the post)
“That’s the main thing, that’s what we’ve got to do to win games. Stop trying to shoot jump shots, get to the rack and then we’ll have the opportunity to shoot jump shots. And we’ll take them with confidence. The inside-out attack, that’s going to win us a lot of games.”

“I think we’re playing pretty good basketball. We went through a tough stretch, but hard work overcomes anything. And that’s our mentality night in and night out; just work as hard as you can.”

(On Trevor Ariza)
“Oh Trevor, it’s just hard work, it’s paying off. Everyday in practice, he’s always the last one in there, working on his game, getting better. He’s always in the weight room. Everything’s going his way right now. I’m glad he’s playing.”

“The first thing coach said in the meeting today was that you’ve got to stop it (losing streak) right here. We came out today with the energy and focus to get it done.”

Orlando Magic Guard J.J. Redick:
“It’s like a pinch hitter; it’s what it’s like. You sit for eight innings and then somebody calls your name and you’re supposed to go knock one out of the park. Only in this case, we were up 20 so I didn’t have to worry about winning the game. I am used to playing a lot of minutes, its tough going in there cold.”

“Confidence, no. Comfort level, yes. I’m still getting adjusted to playing games. I know what I do everyday in practice. So as far as confidence, I don’t feel like it’s dwindled at all. There’s a comfort that’s different in the NBA game than there is in the college game. I feel more and more comfortable every time I’m out there. To really get a feel for things, you’ve got to get game experience. That’s what, 50 minutes on the year for me? Hopefully I’ll tip 100 soon.”

Miami Heat Head Coach Pat Riley:
“We just got manhandled tonight. 11 out of their 12 buckets were in the paint in the first half, no 15 out of 16, they only made one jump shot. They don’t want to admit it in there but we just got manhandled, absolutely manhandled on the boards, in the paint. Defensively, they were up and into us and we could never really get anything going at all. Our bigs, basically were dominated from a rebounding and scoring standpoint. Sometimes it comes down to just…there are times, but not much, but just individual pride and a sense of urgency. I don’t care how depleted you are, we just didn’t show any of that tonight at all.”

On their mindset entering games when missing some players due to injury
“Not to feel sorry for themselves, that’s for sure. Compete and come out and play as well as you can, but we always find a time during the game when we hit a dry spell offensively and it effects us. Our whole mindset is if we are playing well offensively, than we are okay. And that isn’t the way this game is.”

On the Magic’s play in the paint
“We couldn’t keep him (Dwight Howard) off the board and we couldn’t keep their guards out of the paint, that’s the deal. Nelson was breaking us down in the first quarter going to the basket, I think he had three lay-ups. We can’t play, we’re not playing the dribble at all. Our bigs have to come and help, that leaves him loose to just roam the board and he’s tough enough to block out in a one-on-one situation. Then when he started to post-up, it looked like taking candy from a baby.”

Miami Heat Forward Alonzo Mourning:
“We broke down defensively. We broke down across the board. We didn’t do anything to alter their offensive attack. They rebounded the hell out of the ball and banged the offensive boards. They won the war in the paint.”

“We just have to dig a little bit deeper and expect more from the guys that are called upon. Guys have to step up. The teams that we are playing right now have the opportunity to kick us while we are down. They have that opportunity right now. We don’t have a loaded gun. We are going into these games still confident and feel we can win these games if we do everything right. But teams know that we don’t have a loaded gun and they are taking advantage of that. They are really sticking it to us. I am not going to forget it and my teammates are sure not going to forget it. We are going to see them again. When we do see them again, we are going to have all our players and then we will see what happens.”

“We know what type of team we are when Shaq is on the floor or D-Wade is on the floor, or when J-Will is healthy. They know what type of team we are. They are taking advantage of the moment right now. Hey, Championships aren’t won in November and December. That is why I wear this ring. It is a pleasant reminder. They are trying to get what we have already. I know there will be different results.”

“I am not feeling sorry for myself (due to team’s injury woes). Coach says one thing, that is his opinion. My teammates I don’t feel are feeling sorry for themselves. We are just down right now. We are down in personnel and our play is down. We still have good players on this team. We have to put ourselves in position to win. There is no gray area.”

“If you take Howard and the little point guard off that team, they are a totally different ball club. They are a totally different ball club. They are sub .500. They are enjoying the moment now.”

Miami Heat Forward Udonis Haslem:
(on return of new ball effective January 1st)
“To me it is not really a big deal. I will go either way with it. If guys around the league want to change the ball then I am all for it. I am not a guy that handles the ball 90% of the time in a game, so I don’t have the ball that much to make a big deal of it.”

“For whatever reason our heads are not where they need to be. We need to get our heads where they need to be in order to be competitive again.”

POSTGAME NOTES
• Trevor Ariza tallied a double-double tonight with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Ariza is the only other Magic player besides Dwight Howard to record a double-double this season.
• The Magic improve to 18-14 with tonight’s 97-68 victory over the Heat. Orlando is 2-0 against Miami this season.
• The Heat scored 68 points tonight which is a season low for points in a game by an opponent.
• The Magic’s 29 point victory is the biggest margin of victory so far this season. The previous high was 19 points against Atlanta on 11/25/06.
• Orlando is now 7-9 in back-to-back contests this year and 6-2 during the second game of the set.
• Dwight Howard got his 23rd double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
• Jason Kapono led the way for Miami with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field. Dorell Wright was the only other Heat player in double figures with 12.