Heat win 3rd straight, pull away from Magic 93-83

Updated Dec. 26, 2021 5:56 p.m. ET

Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler returned from a bruised tailbone to score 17 points and grab 11 rebounds, Caleb Martin added 17 more points and the Miami Heat beat the Orlando Magic 93-83 on Sunday.

Omer Yurtseven, making his first career start at center for Miami, finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds in the Heat's third straight victory. Gabe Vincent and Max Strus each had 13 points for Miami.

Butler had missed 12 of Miami's last 13 games because of the injury. Martin had missed Miami's last seven games because of a stint in the NBA's health and safety protocols.

Gary Harris scored 20 for Orlando, which got 14 from RJ Hampton, 13 from Franz Wagner and 12 from Hassani Gravett.

Hampton’s 3-pointer with 4:42 left in the first gave Orlando a 21-12 lead, the biggest Magic cushion of the afternoon. Miami answered with a 12-3 run capped by a layup from Udonis Haslem to pull into a tie, then took its first lead with 7:29 left in the half on a pair of free throws from Butler.

The Heat edge was only 42-39 at the half. But Miami scored the first 10 points of the second half — getting four baskets from four different players, Strus, Yurtseven, Duncan Robinson and Vincent — to push the lead out to 13.

Orlando wouldn’t go away. Hampton’s 3-pointer with 6:03 left got the Magic within 80-72, but Miami scored the next eight and sealed the win when Strus hit a 3 with 3:14 left for an 88-72 edge.

TIP-INS

Magic: Orlando fell to 7-27, tying the worst 34-game start in franchise history. It also happened in 1991-92. ... The Magic are now 0-3 against Miami this season.

Heat: Kyle Lowry (protocols) remained sidelined, and Miami was without assistant coaches Chris Quinn and Caron Butler for virus-related reasons. ... Haslem has played in three consecutive games for the first time since making four consecutive appearances in December 2017.

LOTS OF STARTERS

Yurtseven — called upon because Heat centers Bam Adebayo (out until January, thumb) and Dewayne Dedmon (out 1-2 weeks, knee) are sidelined — was just part of more unique lineups for both sides. The three Heat-Magic games this season have seen 19 different players in the starting lineups, already the most in any season series between the Florida teams since 21 players opened Miami-Orlando games during 2002-03.

HERRO EJECTED

Heat guard Tyler Herro was ejected late in the third quarter after picking up his second technical foul of the game. He also received one midway through the second quarter, a double technical along with Hampton.

UP NEXT

Magic: Host Milwaukee on Tuesday, the start of a two-game homestand against the reigning champions.

Heat: Host Washington on Tuesday, the end of Miami’s first four-game homestand so far this season.

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