(Field Level Media) Reserve guard Terrence Ross scored a game-high 25 points — including 6 of 10 on 3-pointers — to lead the host Orlando Magic to a 105-85 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night.
Nikola Vucevic added 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for Orlando, which improved to 9-4 against its in-state rivals since the start of the 2016-2017 season.
The Magic also 16 points and eight rebounds from forward Aaron Gordon and 15 points from guard Evan Fournier. Gordon missed Orlando’s two previous games due to a foot injury.
Miami was led by shooting guard Jimmy Butler, who had 23 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. He made 7 of 12 shots from the floor and 9 of 11 free throws. Heat center Bam Adebayo added 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Heat, who have the best home record in the NBA at 16-1, fell to 9-9 on the road.
Orlando was without three players: starting forward Jonathan Isaac (knee); backup forward Al-Farouq Aminu (knee); and backup guard Michael Carter-Williams (shoulder).
Miami was without point forward Justise Winslow, who has missed 14 consecutive games due to a back injury.
Early on, the game was tight — the score was tied five times in the first period. But Orlando went on an 8-0 run to close the period, taking a 27-22 lead into the second.
Miami shot just 1 of 10 on 3-pointers in the first. Orlando was 4 of 9 from deep, including 3-for-3 by Ross.
Orlando controlled the second quarter, taking a 56-44 lead into halftime. Three-point shooting was the major difference as Miami went 2-for-17 (11.8 percent) and Orlando made 7 of 18 (38.9 percent).
Butler led Miami with 14 first-half points on 5-for-6 shooting from the floor and 4-for-4 on free throws. Ross led Orlando with 18 points on 5-for-6 from 3-point range and 3-for-4 on free throws.
Orlando stretched its lead to 18 early in the third, but Miami answered with an 11-0 run and closed its deficit to 84-79 by the end of the quarter.
But Orlando started the fourth period on an 8-0 run, and was never seriously threatened again.
For the game, Orlando shot 37.1 percent on 3-pointers (13-for-35). Miami shot 18.9 percent on 3-pointers (7-for-37).
