Heat Lose to Magic, Drop Third Consecutive Game

ORLANDO – This was the one the Orlando Magic needed for them to prove they were legitimate contenders this season.

The Magic beat the Miami Heat, 104-95, avenging that early 26-point drubbing in South Florida that had been haunting them the last couple weeks.

It was the third consecutive loss for the Heat, who remain puzzled by their inability to make it work with three superstars .

Dwight Howard led everyone with 24 points and 18 rebounds. Jameer Nelson, who was ejected in the final minute, had 17 points and a career-high 14 assists.

LeBron James scored 25 points, and Dwyane Wade added 18 but made only 6-of-21 shots, struggling with an early-season shooting slump.

The Magic were without Vince Carter, who sat out the game with a minor knee sprain, sustained in Monday night's loss at San Antonio.

FIRST QUARTER: Magic 26, Heat 18

Magic fans were booing LeBron James every time he touched the ball. J.J. Redick, getting his first start of the season with the absence of Vince Carter, hit a 3-pointer early, a good sign for the Magic because he came into the game shooting only 14.3 percent from 3-point range this season.

The Heat's front-court problems on defense were obvious when Howard had two easy, uncontested dunks. James struggled early, missing his first four shots. On three of those first four, they weren't even close. He finally scored on a layup after moving to point guard late in the period. Chris Bosh left the court and headed to the locker room with back spasms.

SECOND QUARTER: Magic 51, Heat 43

James tried to take charge of the game, scoring 12 points in the period, but he got tricked just before halftime by journeyman Quentin Richardson. James was trying to stop a long-distance, just-before-the-halftime buzzer shot by Richardson. But Richardson got James up in the air, and drew the foul, getting three free throws at the expense of James.

Magic reserve forward Brandon Bass got a surprisingly hot hand, and he had 16 points by halftime. Bass came into the game averaging 8.8 points. Bosh returned to the court midway in the period but struggled to guard the lightly regarded Bass. James completed a three-point play early, a sign that he was starting to heat up.

By midway in the period, the Heat had used three of their four centers trying to slow down Dwight Howard. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Jamaal Magloire and Joel Anthony all got a turn. Newly acquired Erick Dampier was in uniform but had to wait on the bench.

THIRD QUARTER: Magic 74, Heat 71

Howard showed some of that offensive flexibility, hitting a 12-foot bank shot, but it was followed immediately by a 3-pointer from Dwyane Wade, his first of the game. Then Howard missed a point-blank shot a minute later.

Official Joe Crawford went tumbling when he collided with J.J. Redick, just before Redick's three-point attempt. The foul was given to Dwyane Wade, and Redick made all three free throws.

Jameer Nelson got a technical foul after complaining about a charging call against him when he knocked down Carlos Arroyo. Backup point guard Jason Williams was ejected -- for the second time this season -- shortly after entering the game, when he started jawing with Magloire, then threw the ball at him.

Heat center Anthony, averaging 1.6 points, hit a short jumper when he was left so wide open he couldn't do anything but shoot.

FOURTH QUARTER: Magic 104, Heat 95

The Heat got the lead for the first time since the first quarter with 6:50 left in the game when Wade scored five consecutive points on back-to-back possessions. Shortly after getting the lead for Miami, Wade blocked a shot by Dwight Howard.

Nelson was ejected with :39 remaining for his second technical foul after jawing with Eddie House. Before he left, though, it was Nelson who dominated the fourth quarter, finishing with 17 points and 14 assists.

Earlier, Redick hit his third 3-pointer of the game, but Chris Bosh followed with a three-point play. House cut the Magic lead to just one with a 3-pointer, his first, with 7:57 remaining.

YOU HAD TO BE THERE:

Coach Erik Spoelstra and LeBron James both talked before the game about raising the intensity level, about playing with more determination, and the Heat had to read about it, too, on the chalkboard. "Passion: To Protect the Paint. Passion: To Choke Air Space. Passion:

YOU HAD TO BE THERE II:

James disagreed with what Wade had said earlier in the day, that getting this team -- and its stars -- to play well together has been a tougher task than he thought it would be.

"It's hard to say it's a tougher road than I thought because I didn't have any expectations,'' James said. "It's taken longer than I thought.''

YOU HAD TO BE THERE III:

When it comes to debating the NBA All-Star ballot, the Heat might have the best example of why the ballots are printed too early. On the Eastern Conference ballot is Heat point guard Mario Chalmers, who is averaging 7.3 minutes and 1.1 points in nine games. Chalmers has been lost on the bench since the season started.