The Heat got the kind of burst from Klay Thompson they’ve been waiting for, and it helped turn Friday into a runaway. Thompson buried five threes in the third quarter alone during Miami’s 145-125 win over the depleted Pacers, finishing with 25 points and going 7-for-12 from deep.
That scoring spree came in a game where Miami had plenty going already. Giannis Antetokounmpo powered the night with 31 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists, while Bam Adebayo added 27 points and nine boards as the Heat won for the second straight time after opening 0-4.
Davion Mitchell also kept the offense pointed in the right direction, piling up 15 points and 11 assists for his fourth double-double in six games. Pelle Larsson chipped in 18 points without missing a shot from the field, giving Miami yet another player who can handle the ball and keep the pace moving.
Orlando got the response it wanted from Anthony Black. After a 30-point loss in Toronto on Wednesday, the Magic came back two nights later and beat the same opponent 121-114, with Black setting the tone by making fast decisions and taking open looks without overthinking them.
Black finished with 17 points, six rebounds and 10 assists against one turnover, and he knocked down three of four shots from beyond the arc. Franz Wagner was right there with him, posting 26 points and 11 assists and looking much more comfortable against Toronto’s length than he had in the previous meeting.
Scottie Barnes still did damage for Toronto, scoring 41 points. But Orlando answered from deep, making 18 threes and winning the long-range battle by 21 points. Desmond Bane hit six triples, including four in the opening quarter.
Boston’s win over Chicago had a different kind of fingerprint, with Jayson Tatum doing more than just filling up the box score. He scored 26 points in the Celtics’ 125-110 victory, while also using his screening to help Boston’s shooters find cleaner looks and keep the Bulls on edge about where the next attack was coming from.
Bulls coach Tiago Splitter knew the challenge Boston would present.
“I think Boston is one of the best teams in the league off the ball,” Splitter said. “You got to really talk on defense.”
Chicago didn’t do enough of that. Payton Pritchard came off the bench for 30 points, and Paul George added 18 points, eight assists and three steals. John Karalis noted that all three of those steals led to Boston points.
Joe Mazzulla still had a complaint of his own. After Neemias Queta gave up back-to-back offensive rebounds in the third quarter, Mazzulla sent him straight back to the bench.
In Other News...
Magic Face Real Pressure After That Raptors Blowout
The Magic are heading back into an NBA Cup matchup with Toronto carrying the memory of a 30-point loss from their previous meeting, and the rematch arrives with a very different feel around the roster. Orlando has been forced to shuffle through three different starting lineups lately because of injuries, and the lack of continuity has made every adjustment matter a little more as the group tries to steady itself in a tight tournament setting.
Desmond Banes shooting looms as a bigger part of the equation this time, especially with the offense searching for reliable spacing and rhythm. Sean Sweeney may have another lineup decision to make, too, with Tristan da Silva a possible fit next to Franz Wagner as Orlando looks for a combination that can hold up better against Toronto and avoid another night like the last one. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Face A Brutal Test In NBA Cup Opener Against Toronto
The NBA Cup opener gives Orlando an early measuring stick, and Toronto is a tough place to find one. The Raptors have leaned into defense and transition offense, and that style has already given the Magic trouble, especially when turnovers start piling up and the pressure ramps up on the perimeter. RJ Barretts strong first-half play in the previous meeting was part of what tilted the game, and it underscored how quickly Toronto can seize control when Orlando gets loose with the ball.
For the Magic, the bigger concern is whether the offense can generate clean looks against a team that has been sharp from deep in recent form. Orlandos shooting efficiency has been a lingering issue, and the injury situation only makes the margin for error thinner as the Cup schedule begins. The matchup sets up as a difficult one for the Magic, with Toronto carrying the edge on paper and a chance to make another early statement if Orlando cannot tighten up its execution. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Frontcourt Just Exposed A Problem Toronto Has To Solve
Toronto still found a way to beat Orlando while controlling most of the game statistically, but the box score also pointed to one area the Raptors could not fully solve. The Magic won the battle on the glass in the spots that tend to swing close games, with a clear edge in offensive rebounds, second chance points and points off turnovers, and Trayce Jackson-Davis was active enough to matter with 6 points and 11 rebounds.
Jakob Poeltls night was a quiet one, as he managed just two points and two rebounds in 10 minutes before foul trouble cut his role short. The bigger issue for Toronto was how quickly the frontcourt rotation got stretched once both Poeltl and Collin Murray-Boyles fouled out, leaving the Raptors to reshuffle their interior group in a game that exposed how thin that margin can be. [Read more 🡒]