Magic Edge Heat in puerto Rico, Fueled by Alex Morales‘ Performance
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The orlando Magic defeated the Miami Heat 121-114 in a preseason contest played in front of an excited crowd at the Coliseo de puerto Rico today, bolstered by a strong performance from Puerto Rican player Alex Morales. Morales contributed a key block in the fourth quarter, helping to secure the Magic’s advantage in a tightly contested game that served as the first preparation for both teams ahead of the 2024-2025 NBA season.
The exhibition game, a significant event for basketball fans in Puerto Rico, showcased competitive play despite being a preseason matchup. The contest highlighted the growing interest in the NBA within the territory and provided a platform for emerging talents like Morales to shine.The Magic’s victory signals a promising start to their preparations, while the Heat will look to refine their strategy before the regular season begins.
Ethan Thompson, also of Puerto Rican descent, contributed five points, three rebounds, and six assists for the Heat. Thompson also scored a three-pointer and was involved in a collision with a teammate, resulting in a foul. The game remained closely contested throughout,with the Heat briefly regaining the lead with two free throws from Thompson (86-87) before a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Trevor Keels gave Miami a 93-90 advantage at the end of the third period.
orlando ultimately turned the tide in the fourth quarter. Morales’ crucial block with 1:36 remaining extended the Magic’s lead to 121-114,effectively sealing the victory. Paolo banchero finished with seven points for the Magic, while Bam Adebayo contributed three points for the Heat. Desmond Bane,a recent acquisition for Orlando,led the team with nine goals.
“It was a great scenario here, a great event and worth returning again,” said Heat head coach Erick Spoelstra following the game.The NBA’s return to Puerto Rico generated considerable excitement among local fans, who enjoyed the high-level competition and the possibility to witness NBA stars in action.
