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Magic-Heat Preview

Apr 9, 2016 - 5:33 PM The Orlando Magic aren't ready to let go of their season, and that is directly affecting the Miami Heat.

With time running out on their fourth straight non-playoff campaign, the Magic will try to hinder the Heat in their push for a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference when they go for a sweep of a home-and-home set on Sunday night in Miami.

Orlando (34-45) has long been eliminated from postseason contention but has piled up three wins over teams that are in during a 5-2 stretch. The latest was Friday's rare victory over its in-state rival.

Nikola Vucevic posted 29 points in his return to the starting lineup and Evan Fournier had 28 to lift the Magic to a 112-109 win over the Heat (46-33), just their second victory in the last 16 games of this series. That stretch includes Miami's two wins earlier this season and a 7-1 mark for the Heat at home.

But Orlando was the aggressor late on Friday when Vucevic - starting for the first time since March 4 - threw down a go-ahead dunk with 21 seconds remaining and reserve Devyn Marble stole Luol Deng's inbounds pass with 3.4 left to seal it.

''We're not giving up. That's for sure,'' Jason Smith said. ''We're not folding this season. We're continuing to play hard, play hard every night, and really go out and finish this season with a bang.''

Miami still has hopes of closing with a top-four seed and home-court advantage in the first round, but trails Southeast Division-leading Atlanta and Boston in that race while tied with Charlotte for the fifth spot.

The Heat finish the season on the road at playoff-bound Detroit on Tuesday and at the Celtics a night later.

First, they will try to win their 12th home game in 14 tries in their final contest at AmericanAirlines Arena. Orlando has lost 11 of 13 road games.

''At this time of the year, you're not concerned about a loss here and there. This team keeps fighting,'' Dwyane Wade said. ''Losing is part of basketball. As long as you go out and compete, and I thought we did that.''

Wade led seven Heat players in double figures with 17 points on Friday, but a recently dynamic Miami scoring attack was slowed by an improving Orlando defense.

The Magic held the Heat to 45 percent shooting to lower that number to 45.8 for their last seven opponents, directly following a stretch of five of eight that reached 50. Miami was the last team on that list by shooting 50 percent in a 108-97 home win on March 25.

Hassan Whiteside has made 16 of 27 shots for 39 points with 28 rebounds and nine blocks in the last two games of this series.

The 7-footer went against an Orlando frontcourt missing Aaron Gordon on Friday, and that may be the case again two days later. Gordon missed his first game in four months with a concussion suffered in Wednesday's 108-104 loss to the Pistons, and his season is in jeopardy while he goes through the NBA concussion protocol.

Another Magic starter could be out as Victor Oladipo left Friday's game with a concussion, his second of the season. Oladipo, averaging 16 points, also needed stitches over his left eye after colliding with Whiteside.