MIAMI (AP) — Udonis Haslem went out a winner, and set on a clearly show.
Haslem scored 24 points in his ultimate typical-period game, Duncan Robinson included 20 and the Miami Heat tuned up for the engage in-in tournament by topping the Orlando Magic 123-110 on Sunday.
It was Haslem’s maximum-scoring sport since he had 28 points on Nov. 14, 2009. He checked out for the ultimate time with 58.9 seconds still left, receiving the very last of a lot of ovations that rained down through the afternoon.
And Haslem became the initial 42-yr-outdated to rating 24 or extra details in a activity. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was three times previous his 41st birthday when he scored at the very least 24 for the final time no a person experienced been older than that in these kinds of a game, right up until Sunday.
“He is the top competitor, the top teammate, the ultimate winner,” Warmth coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He’s about all the appropriate issues. He also has that ‘it’ top quality and he’s normally experienced that.”
Haslem was 9 for 17 from the ground, 3 for 7 from 3-place selection. It was Haslem’s 1,026th sport — which include playoffs — and he’s only scored far more points in two of them.
“So lots of folks have sacrificed for me and this is for them. This is their working day as much as it is mine,” said Haslem, who is retiring when this period — his 20th, all with Miami — finishes. “This enjoy affair that I’ve had with this corporation and this metropolis for the final 20 yrs is heading to continue to expand.”
Victor Oladipo scored 19, Jamal Cain included 18 and Omer Yurtseven finished with 14 for Miami — which obtained a franchise-file 111 factors off its bench.
Kevon Harris scored 22 for Orlando, although Caleb Houstan included 21 and Chuma Okeke scored 14. The Magic started 5-20, then went 29-28 in their remaining 57 game titles.
“I just have to say how proud of this team I am,” Magic mentor Jamahl Mosley claimed. “Being ready to sustain a 5-20 record and not waver, that just exhibits the resiliency in this team, the willingness to master, the willingness to choose on unique troubles.”
Miami held out Jimmy Butler, who rested in advance of Tuesday’s engage in-in match in opposition to Atlanta. Orlando held out Paolo Banchero, his rookie year ending mainly because of again tightness.
Orlando remained in the participate in-in race right up until the last couple days of the season, a massive change from very last season.
“I imagine all people can see the place we’re headed,” Banchero mentioned.
Most of Miami’s rotation gamers who did look — Max Strus, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Gabe Vincent, Kyle Lowry, Kevin Like, Cody Zeller and Caleb Martin — bought a single or two shifts in advance of their times ended up declared above. None of those people gamers logged extra than 12 minutes.
Haslem — 42 several years and 304 times aged — is the fifth-oldest participant to appear in an NBA sport. Nat Hickey was 45 when he performed in two games with Providence in January 1948. Kevin Willis performed right up until he was 44, even though Robert Parish and Vince Carter the two did until they have been 43.
Haslem handed Dikembe Mutombo for No. 5 on the oldest-to-participate in checklist Mutombo was 42 yrs, 300 times previous when he appeared in his NBA finale.
“Couldn’t have scripted this any much better,” Spoelstra explained.
Suggestion-INS
Magic: At 34-48, Orlando nonetheless posted its fourth-very best document in the past 11 a long time. … Franz Wagner scored 10 factors for the Magic, who gave up a 16- run in the fourth quarter.
Warmth: The Warmth have concluded every of the earlier four common seasons with a winning history. They’re one particular of 5 teams with these types of an energetic streak, becoming a member of Denver, the Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee and Philadelphia. … It was Miami’s 1st home video game due to the fact its building was renamed Kaseya Heart.
WALL AND HASLEM
Haslem’s to start with normal-period sport was Oct. 28, 2003. A person of the referees for that game was Scott Wall — who also was one of the referees Sunday for Haslem’s last video game.
BANCHERO’S 12 months
Banchero, the too much to handle preferred to get rookie of the calendar year, would be the 3rd Magic player to win the award. The many others are Mike Miller — Banchero’s agent — in 2001 and Hall of Fame player Shaquille O’Neal in 2003. Miller and O’Neal both won NBA titles with the Warmth.
UP Up coming
Magic: Period complete.
Heat: Host Atlanta in play-in tournament on Tuesday.
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