The Orlando Magic are headed to Las Vegas.
The Magic clamped the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter Tuesday, Dec. 9 in a 117-108 victory to earn a trip to the NBA Cup East Semifinals. Orlando will play the winner of the New York Knicks-Toronto Raptors game, set to take place later Tuesday. After missing their first seven shots of the game, the Magic launched an offensive avalanche behind Desmond Bane’s 37 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
Playing without Franz Wagner, who suffered a high-ankle sprain and will miss extended time, the Magic got a massive contribution from Wendell Carter Jr., who scored 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting and added 10 rebounds.
Miami’s inability to knock down 3s in the second half, and its inability to stop Bane, did the Heat in. Although Miami scored the game’s first 15 points, it shot just 8-of-33 (24.2%) from beyond the arc, with only two 3-pointers converted after halftime.
The Heat (14-11) have lost four consecutive games and have hit a rough patch with their offense. After sprinting out of the gate to start the NBA season, teams have intentionally slowed Miami down, limiting their fastbreak opportunities.
This marked Bane’s third different 37-point performance over his last six games for the Magic (15-11).
The NBA Cup East Semifinal is set for Saturday, Dec. 13 at 5:30 p.m. ET.
End Q3: Magic 89, Heat 83
This battle for a berth in the NBA Cup East Semifinals is shaping up to be a fantastic finish.
The Magic may have taken moderate control headed into the fourth quarter, but both teams have battled in what has been an entertaining, back-and-forth game. Still, the Heat are struggling to get stops on Orlando, which is slowing down Miami’s transition attack.
The Heat lead the NBA in pace (105.42), but teams have been throwing more zone at Miami and clogging the paint. After a quiet second quarter, Tyler Herro found a rhythm late in the period, and finished with 8 points in the third.
For the Magic, it has been Desmond Bane to spark the offense. After he missed his first two 3-pointers in the game, Bane has flushed four consecutive and dropped 10 in the period. He has a game-high 22 points.
The Magic are shooting 50% from the floor, while Miami is at 43.5%
End Q2: Heat 57, Magic 56
The Heat imploded somewhat in the second quarter, going cold on their shooting, failing to pick up offensive rebounds and having the ball stagnate on offense.
That allowed Orlando to catch fire and outscore Miami by 12 in the period, though Miami clung to one-point lead headed into halftime. The Magic shot 61.5% from the floor in the second quarter, compared to Miami converting shots at just a 45% clip. Orlando also laced half of its 10 attempts from 3-point range to close the gap.
The Magic clogged the paint on defense, slowing Miami’s fastbreak attempts considerably in the second quarter. That slowed pace appeared to affect the Heat’s half-court offense and shot selection.
These teams entered the night tied for fifth in the NBA in defensive rating (111.8), and the team that clamps down better in the second half may come away with a trip to Las Vegas.
Tyler Herro and Norman Powell each lead the Heat with 12 points, while Desmond Bane paces the Magic with 12 of his own.
Magic riding run in second quarter
After committing 7 turnovers in the first quarter, Orlando has protected the ball and hasn’t given it away once in the second period. The Magic are hitting shots, too, and have opened the second on an 18-9 run, closing the deficit to just 4 points.
Miami is up 39-35 with 7:32 to play in the period.
End Q1: Heat 30, Magic 17
After hitting their first seven shots of the game, the Miami Heat cooled off some but still take a 13-point lead into the second quarter. Miami scored the first 15 points of the game and opened on a 20-4 run.
The Heat did it in the paint and on the perimeter, scoring 25 of their 30 points in the paint or from beyond the arc. Miami also protected the ball, committing just 2 turnovers.
It was a different story for Orlando. The Magic missed their first five shot attempts and clearly miss Franz Wagner, who is sidelined with a high-ankle sprain. Orlando’s star player, Paolo Banchero, struggled from the floor and didn’t hit a single field goal and scored only 2 points in the period. The Magic committed 7 turnovers in the first.
All five of Miami’s starters scored and Tyler Herro led the team with 9 points, while Norman Powell added 8.
The Heat come out on fire; Orlando: not so much
Miami opened the game on a blaze, hitting all five of its field goals. The Magic, meanwhile, have missed each of their four attempts and have turned the ball over once, leading to a quick, 13-0 run to start the game.
Early indications clearly show Orlando struggling without Franz Wagner.
What time is Heat vs. Magic NBA Cup game today?
The Orlando Magic will host the Miami Heat on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. ET at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida.
How to watch Heat vs. Magic NBA Cup game: TV, live streaming
The game between the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic will be live streamed nationally on Amazon Prime Video.
Date: Dec. 9, 2025
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Location: Kia Center (Orlando, Florida)
TV: None
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
Watch NBA Cup games with Amazon Prime
Heat, Magic injury updates
The Miami Heat will have their full complement of players for tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic, with Tyler Herro, Pelle Larsson, Davion Mitchell and Dru Smith all upgraded to available.
The Magic, meanwhile, will be missing Franz Wagner (high ankle sprain), Moritz Wagner (left knee) and Colin Castleton (fractured left thumb).
Orlando Magic starting lineup
Here are the starters for the Orlando Magic in the NBA Cup quarterfinal game against the Miami Heat:
G Jalen Suggs
G Anthony Black
G Desmond Blane
F Paolo Banchero
C Wendell Carter Jr.
Miami Heat starting lineup
Here are the starters for the Miami Heat in the NBA Cup quarterfinal game against the Orlando Magic:
G Davion Mitchell
G Tyler Herro
F Norman Powell
F Andrew Wiggins
C Bam Adebayo
