ducks
11-27-2005, 12:18 AM
November 26, 2005
Orlando Magic guard Steve Francis, right, is fouled by Miami Heat guard Jason Kapono during the second half in Orlando, Fla., Saturday, Nov. 26, 2005. The Magic won, 80-77.
AP - Nov 26, 10:36 pm EST
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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Brian Hill had a brief message for his players before they went out to face the Miami Heat on Saturday.
"I told them eight is enough. Let's end it right here," the Orlando Magic coach said of his team's losing streak against Miami. "That's really all I had to say."
The Magic players took it from there, leading wire-to-wire against their in-state rival and sealing their 80-77 victory with tough defense and some clutch free-throw shooting.
Orlando held Miami to a season-low 32 percent shooting and made two defensive stops in the final minute when Miami had the ball trailing 76-74.
DeShawn Stevenson forced Heat guard Dwyane Wade to miss from 20 feet on the first possession and Heat guard Gary Payton stepped out of bounds to turn the ball over with 12 seconds left on the next possession.
Jameer Nelson and Steve Francis combined to go 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final 11 seconds to help the Magic push their season-high winning streak to three games.
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"We're winning these games because we're able to guard people and make them take tough shots," said Hill, who promised just that when he was rehired as the Magic coach last May. "You have to take pride in your defense and our guys are starting to see the positive results from that."
Hedo Turkoglu led the Magic with 18 points, while second-year forward Dwight Howard contributed 15 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks. Stevenson added 12 points and Francis had 10.
Wade led Miami with 21 points and Alonzo Mourning contributed a season-high 21 rebounds and 15 points, but the Heat lost for the third time in four games. Though they limited Orlando to 35 percent shooting, they failed to take advantage of their 19 offensive rebounds.
"We're not a team that has shown a consistency of energy or intensity," Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We want to play only as much as we think we have to play. We put ourselves in some bad situations and we're taking some tough losses because of it."
Stevenson hit two free throws with 4:54 left in the game to give the Magic a 73-63 lead. Orlando got only one field goal the rest of the game as Miami staged a late rally.
Jason Williams started it with back-to-back 3-pointers and Payton hit another to cut the deficit to 76-72. Wade dunked to make it 76-74 with 1:29 to play, but missed a 20-footer with Stevenson in his face and just under a minute to play.
"When you're playing in a hole all game it kind of makes it difficult," Mourning said. "I think every individual on this team has to do a check of themselves mentally and understanding there is a sense of urgency in starting games off with the energy we need to win."
The Heat got the ball back after Turkoglu missed from 20 feet, but Payton stepped out of bounds under pressure from Francis, denying Miami another shot at a tie.
Notes
Miami swept the series with Orlando the past two seasons. ... Mourning, who leads the NBA in blocked shots, had four Saturday. ... Howard had his eighth double-double by halftime with 10 points and 10 rebounds. ... Miami had a streak of 21 straight misses on 3-point attempts (0-for-11 against Dallas, 0-for-10 against Orlando) Payton's at the end of the third quarter. ... Magic G Keyon Dooling went on the inactive list with an inflamed plantar fascia in his right heel.
Orlando Magic guard Steve Francis, right, is fouled by Miami Heat guard Jason Kapono during the second half in Orlando, Fla., Saturday, Nov. 26, 2005. The Magic won, 80-77.
AP - Nov 26, 10:36 pm EST
More Photos
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Brian Hill had a brief message for his players before they went out to face the Miami Heat on Saturday.
"I told them eight is enough. Let's end it right here," the Orlando Magic coach said of his team's losing streak against Miami. "That's really all I had to say."
The Magic players took it from there, leading wire-to-wire against their in-state rival and sealing their 80-77 victory with tough defense and some clutch free-throw shooting.
Orlando held Miami to a season-low 32 percent shooting and made two defensive stops in the final minute when Miami had the ball trailing 76-74.
DeShawn Stevenson forced Heat guard Dwyane Wade to miss from 20 feet on the first possession and Heat guard Gary Payton stepped out of bounds to turn the ball over with 12 seconds left on the next possession.
Jameer Nelson and Steve Francis combined to go 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final 11 seconds to help the Magic push their season-high winning streak to three games.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We're winning these games because we're able to guard people and make them take tough shots," said Hill, who promised just that when he was rehired as the Magic coach last May. "You have to take pride in your defense and our guys are starting to see the positive results from that."
Hedo Turkoglu led the Magic with 18 points, while second-year forward Dwight Howard contributed 15 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks. Stevenson added 12 points and Francis had 10.
Wade led Miami with 21 points and Alonzo Mourning contributed a season-high 21 rebounds and 15 points, but the Heat lost for the third time in four games. Though they limited Orlando to 35 percent shooting, they failed to take advantage of their 19 offensive rebounds.
"We're not a team that has shown a consistency of energy or intensity," Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We want to play only as much as we think we have to play. We put ourselves in some bad situations and we're taking some tough losses because of it."
Stevenson hit two free throws with 4:54 left in the game to give the Magic a 73-63 lead. Orlando got only one field goal the rest of the game as Miami staged a late rally.
Jason Williams started it with back-to-back 3-pointers and Payton hit another to cut the deficit to 76-72. Wade dunked to make it 76-74 with 1:29 to play, but missed a 20-footer with Stevenson in his face and just under a minute to play.
"When you're playing in a hole all game it kind of makes it difficult," Mourning said. "I think every individual on this team has to do a check of themselves mentally and understanding there is a sense of urgency in starting games off with the energy we need to win."
The Heat got the ball back after Turkoglu missed from 20 feet, but Payton stepped out of bounds under pressure from Francis, denying Miami another shot at a tie.
Notes
Miami swept the series with Orlando the past two seasons. ... Mourning, who leads the NBA in blocked shots, had four Saturday. ... Howard had his eighth double-double by halftime with 10 points and 10 rebounds. ... Miami had a streak of 21 straight misses on 3-point attempts (0-for-11 against Dallas, 0-for-10 against Orlando) Payton's at the end of the third quarter. ... Magic G Keyon Dooling went on the inactive list with an inflamed plantar fascia in his right heel.