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Magic-Heat Preview

Mar 18, 2010 - 4:27 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Orlando (47-21) at Miami (35-33), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Orlando Magic are feeling pretty good about Vince Carter's steady performance in recent weeks. If they can get Rashard Lewis playing at that same level, they'll be ecstatic.

Lewis looks to build on his best game of an otherwise awful month Thursday when the Magic - seeking their 10th victory in 11 games - visit the Miami Heat.

Neither Carter (42.5 percent) nor Lewis (42.9) has shot the ball well this season. Orlando (48-21) has plenty of other options to compensate for that duo's struggles, but getting both stars on track could be critical with the playoffs approaching.

Carter seems well on his way. The former Rookie of the Year has averaged 19.0 points on 54.6 percent shooting over his last 10 games as the Magic have gone 9-1.

Lewis, on the other hand, has been completely off his game. He had averaged 4.0 points over Orlando's previous three games heading into San Antonio's visit on Wednesday, and coach Stan Van Gundy said his two-time All-Star lacked energy after Lewis shot 1 for 7 in Sunday's loss to Charlotte.

That changed against the Spurs. Lewis had 20 points while shooting 7 of 10 - hitting four 3-pointers - and Carter scored a game-high 24 in a 110-84 rout.

"Everybody's going to have ups and down, but he's always been a guy who bounces back," Van Gundy said of Lewis. "He had a good night."

While Thursday's meeting is the last of the regular season between the Magic and the Heat, it could be a playoff preview. Orlando is the East's No. 2 seed, with Miami currently in the seventh slot.

The Heat (35-33) won the first two games of the season series as Lewis struggled, scoring nine points in each game and shooting 25.0 percent.

He fared much better versus Miami on Feb. 28 at home. Lewis had 22 points to lead the Magic to a 96-80 victory on a night Dwight Howard scored seven points.

"You never want to see a guy struggle the way Dwight did, but if he does, we've got no choice but to step up and contribute a little more," Lewis said.

Jermaine O'Neal and Miami have done a solid job neutralizing Howard this season, limiting him to averages of 12.0 points and 11.7 rebounds in the three meetings.

Wade has managed 23.3 points on 39.3 percent shooting against Orlando, but he's elevated his game so far in March to help the Heat get back in the playoff picture.

In ninth place after the Feb. 28 loss to the Magic, the Heat have since won six of eight behind 30.3 points per game from Wade.

Yet one night before Orlando routed the Spurs, Miami couldn't deliver against San Antonio. Wade had 28 points Tuesday but his teammates shot 36.5 percent in an 88-76 defeat.

"We got beat in two departments - one, any kind of energy, effort, toughness type play," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "And simply at the end of the possessions, they were brilliant."

Michael Beasley scored just six points Tuesday after missing two games with a bruised thigh. To beat Orlando, the Heat may need a better performance from the 2008 No. 2 overall draft pick.

Beasley has averaged 18.5 points and 10.0 rebounds in the two wins against the Magic, but had one point, two boards and four fouls in last month's loss.