The Orlando Magic claimed an unexpected win over the Miami Heat at home on Friday, sending a wake-up message to the East heavyweight.
Miami Heat 85-105 Orlando Magic
Aaron Gordon (C) of the Orlando Magic dunks in the game against the Miami Heat at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, January 3, 2020.
Miami lost Friday's game for simply one reason: underperformance in offense. The team's field goal rate was only 37.5 percent. They only buried seven 3-pointers at a rate of 18.92 percent. The whole team only delivered 16 assists but committed 18 turnovers. Only two players, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, scored double-digit points.
By contrast, Orlando not only saw three from their starting-lineup – Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, and Evan Fournier – put down double-digit points, but also had Terrence Ross drop 25 points off the bench.
Moreover, the Magic built their victories on underestimated defense. The team shared a similar style with the Philadelphia 76ers: big center Vucevic staying under the rim, Gordon who combines size, speed, and power takes on the opponents' ace while Jonathan Issac patrols within the 3-point line. The two perimeter players, Markelle Fultz and Fournier are both bigger than most players in their positions.
Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat tries to break through the defense of Aaron Gordon of the Orlando Magic in the game at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, January 3, 2020.
Though Issac had to rest eight to 10 weeks because of a severe sprain and bone contusion in his left knee, the Heat in this game failed to punish the Magic from the 3-point line. The Heat's shooters, Duncan Robinson, Goran Dragic, Kelly Olynyk, and Tyler Herro were together 4-26 from the 3-point line, giving Vucevic more reasons to stay in the paint between the Heat's slasher and the Magic's basket.
One less, Miami should learn from this loss was that they need to find better help for Butler. The four-time All-Star led the team in scoring (23), rebounding (10) and assisting (7). Usually, the team only needs him to carry for a few minutes when the game is on the line, but when their young men like Robinson, and Kendrick Nunn are neutralized from the beginning, Butler alone cannot reverse the situation.
New Orleans Pelicans 113-123 Los Angeles Lakers
Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks in the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Califonia, January 3, 2020. /AP Photo
Lakers fans who watched the team's home win over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday must have felt like a Déjà vu for Friday's game against the pelicans at the Staples Center.
In the first quarter, everything seemed to be going their way. LeBron James delivered eight assists, Danny Green was 5-6 from the 3-point line to get 17 points and Anthony Davis had 12 points. As the game entered the fourth quarter, the purple and gold already extended their lead to over 20 points.
Nonetheless, the fourth quarter again became the scary period for Lakers fans. Their team's FG rate and 3-point rate fell to 38.1 and 12.5 percent, respectively, leading to a 30-18 run by the Pelicans. More importantly, the purple and gold also lost intensity with their defense. If coach Frank Vogel had not sent James and Davis back to the court, who knows how the game would have ended?
In fact, this was not the first time the Lakers became vulnerable in the last quarter. Having played 35 games so far, the team averaged only 24.7 points per Q4, the second-worst in the league, only better than the Charlotte Hornets (24.5). One thing about the playoffs is that teams rarely make total blowouts. If the Lakers aim for championship, they need to fix their Q4 problem.
Philadelphia 76ers 108-118 Houston Rockets
James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets tries to steal the ball from Al Horford #42 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the game at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, January 20, 2019. /AP photo
The 76ers suffered their fourth straight loss at the Toyota Center. The team did not even claim one win since their victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in the Christmas showdown.
Joel Embiid returned from injury but he was humiliated by the Rockets' blue-collar center Clint Capela. Though Embiid had 20 points and 12 rebounds, he watched Capela drop 30 points and 14 rebounds. Embiid failed to contribute enough both in the offense and defense.
Philadelphia did not like their recent declining tendency and one of their dual stars Ben Simmons called on his teammates to reflect on themselves. Simmons seemed to be going refresh to put down a triple-double of 29 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Philadelphia seemed to be more focused on the game than before as they limited Houston's scoring to 20 points in the first quarter.
However, that was the end of their highlights because in the second quarter, Philadelphia lost 40 points. The team's offense also failed in the third quarter while James Harden and Russell Westbrook continued to lead Houston to score like a hot knife cutting through butter. Harden also put down a triple-double of 44 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists,
Other games on Friday (home teams in bold):
Atlanta Hawks 106-109 Boston Celtics
Portland Trail Blazers 122-103 Washington Wizards
New York Knicks 112-120 Phoenix Sun