March 12, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Pele Larsson (9) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) during the fourth quarter at the Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The Miami Heat have won seven straight, their longest winning streak since November 2023.
Miami, which hosts the Orlando Magic on Saturday night, is coming from deep. Three of the Heat’s top four scorers have been sidelined recently. Tyler Herro (quadriceps injury) has missed his second straight game, Andrew Wiggins (toe) has missed his fourth straight game, and Norman Powell (groin) has missed his seventh straight game.
But on Thursday night, Miami’s Pelle Larsson scored a career-high 28 points in a 112-105 win over visiting Milwaukee.
Additionally, Heat rookie first-round pick Kasparas Jakucionis scored 18 points by hitting 5 of 11 3-point attempts.
For the season, Larsson ranks just seventh on the Heat in scoring (10.7). Jakucionis is 11th (6.1). But looking at the way the Heat have been playing lately, anyone could give the team a boost.
But Larsson said Heat captain Bam Adebayo, who had a historic 83-point performance against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, has been an inspiration to Miami in many ways.
“When he speaks, it comes from a place where he wants to win,” Larsson said. “But it’s not just what he tells you in the media.
“What brings energy to games like this is what we hear every day from the coaches and each other. It comes from all areas. This energy has been what we’ve had in the last seven games.”
The Heat will need that energy to conquer the Magic, who are 4-0 against Miami this season. All four games were very close, with Orlando winning by 4, 1, 9, and 9 points, respectively.
Powell faced Orlando four times this season, averaging 24.8 points. Adebayo is averaging 19.8 points and 11.8 rebounds in these four games. Herro scored 20 points in his only game against the Magic this season.
Powell and Herro are listed as questionable and Wiggins will sit out again.
Meanwhile, the Magic have won six straight, their longest winning streak of the season.
In Orlando’s most recent win, Jalen Suggs scored a season-high 28 points as the Magic defeated the Wizards 136-131 in overtime on Thursday.
“When Jalen plays controlled and composed, he adds a great addition to our team,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said.
The Magic are winning despite missing two of their top four scorers as Franz Wagner (21.3) is out with an ankle injury and Anthony Black (15.3) is dealing with an abdominal issue. Additionally, Jonathan Isaac (2.6 scoring average) left Thursday’s game with a right knee sprain and will miss Friday’s game.
“My heart is broken,” Mosley said when asked about his reaction to Isaac’s injury. “We know what he’s been through (in terms of previous injuries).”
Fortunately, the Magic still have players like Desmond Bane, Paolo Banchero, Suggs, Wendell Carter Jr., and Tristan da Silva.
Banchero is the biggest star, ranking first on the team in scoring (22.2) and rebounds (8.6) and second in assists (5.0). In four games with the Heat this season, he is averaging 20.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
Bane ranks third in scoring (20.6 points) in Orlando. In four games against Miami, he is averaging 22.0 points.
Suggs is averaging 14.1 points against the league and 18.0 points against Miami (4 games).
Overall, the Magic pride themselves on their defense and rank 11th in the NBA in points allowed (114.0). Meanwhile, Miami ranks second in the league in scoring (120.5) and that matchup should be interesting.
–Field level media
