They're from the same division and the same state, and even have the same record (14-10) as the knockout rounds for the 2025 NBA Cup get underway. So the stakes will be a little higher than when the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic played just four days ago in a regular-season matchup.
The two Florida-based teams are set to tip off quarterfinal action on Tuesday, Dec. 9 with the first of two East quarterfinal games. This will be the third meeting for the two rivals this after the Magic beat the Heat in both teams' season opener on Oct. 22 and then secured a 106-105 win on Dec. 5.
The Magic got star Paolo Banchero back after a 10-game absence last week, but announced forward Franz Wagner will miss Tuesday's game after an MRI revealed he suffered a high ankle sprain against the New York Knicks on Sunday. Wagner's return will depend on how he responds to treatment, while ESPN reported a typical recovery timeline for the injury would be 2 to 4 weeks. Wagner had 32 points to lead Orlando past the Heat last Friday.
The Magic have righted themselves after a slow start to the season after high preseason expectations following the team's offseason trade for guard Desmond Bane. The Heat have been one of the NBA's pleasant surprises to begin the 2025-26 campaign, going from one of the slowest tempos in the NBA to playing with the most pace in the league through a quarter of the schedule. But Miami enters Tuesday's NBA Cup on a downswing, with three-straight losses and four setbacks in the past five games.
