Heat–Magic rivalry

Heat—Magic rivalry

Miami Heat Orlando Magic
First meeting	April 25 2020
Latest meeting	March 4, 2020 Magic 113, Heat 116
Next meeting	TBD
Statistics
Meetings total	128
All-time series	71–57 (MIA)
Regular season series	68–55 (MIA)
Postseason results	3–2 (MIA)
Longest win streak	MIA: W9 ORL: W9
Current win streak	MIA 3
Post-season history
1997 Eastern Conference First Round: Heat won, 3–2

The Heat–Magic rivalry is an National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic. It is also known as the Sunshine State rivalry since both the Heat and the Magic are based in the state of Florida.

Background

The rivalry started when two teams were expanded into the NBA, both being from Florida which made it a battle for basketball supremacy statewide. Orlando became the first team in Florida to reach the Finals in the 1990s and Miami quickly followed with a strong team of its own after Shaquille O’Neal left Orlando in 1996.

The two teams have met just once in the Playoffs in 1997. It was a surprising five-game series that saw Anfernee Hardaway put in two of the best individual playoff games in team history with back-to-back 40-point performances. The Heat were the better team and prevailed in the decisive fifth game.

2010–2012: Arrival of LeBron James

In the off season the Heat made headlines nearly every day after it was announced that LeBron James would sign with the club as a free agent. Other teams in the NBA felt slight and overwhelmed by the amount of coverage the Heat were given.

Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy was one of the people that noticed the “extra” coverage the Heat had received. Earlier in the year of 2010 at a press conference, Van Gundy stated: “I’m surprised there was enough media left for you guys to get here. ESPN is all Heat, all the time.”

The players got involved as well. Marcin Gortat said “Honestly, I’m sick of listening every hour about Miami—Miami that, how great they are, how big they are, what kind of record they gonna have.”

Dwight Howard chimed in by simply stating “We’re trying to take their heads off.” Even upper management got involved in the verbal feud.

Otis Smith, the president of basketball operations for the Orlando Magic was discussing LeBron going to Miami and had this to say: "I was surprised that he went. I thought he was, I guess, more of a competitor.”

Eventually LeBron responded to this comment regarding his competitiveness. “Orlando, that’s funny that they questioned my competitiveness. I like that. The locker room—we’re going to put a lot of stuff in the locker room...We'll deal with them later."

After the departure of Dwight Howard from the Magic in 2012, the rivalry has softened but still remains heated amongst the organizations and its fans.

NBA Playoffs

1997 NBA Eastern Conference First Round

• Game 1: Miami Heat 99–64 Orlando Magic
• Game 2: Miami Heat 104–87 Orlando Magic
• Game 3: Orlando Magic 88–75 Miami Heat
• Game 4: Orlando Magic 99–91 Miami Heat
• Game 5: Miami Heat 91–83 Orlando Magic

Miami Heat win series 3–2.

Common Players

• Shaquille O’Neal Magic (1992–1996), Heat (2004–2009)
• Anfernee Hardaway Magic (1993–1998), Heat (2007)
• Rashard Lewis Magic (2007–2010), Heat (2012–2014)
• Ryan Anderson Magic (2009–2012), Heat (2019)
• Jason Williams Heat (2005–2009), Magic (2009–2011)

See also

• List of National Basketball Association rivalries