​LAS VEGAS — The Magic and the Heat renewed their in-state rivalry for the seventh time this year, spanning both the preseason and the regular season, and the Summer League chapter on Saturday afternoon proved to be another competitive chapter. In a tight, back-and-forth contest between Sunshine State foes, Orlando seized momentum in the third quarter by relying on its defense to pull away for a 93-88 victory over Miami at Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus.
Orlando’s young core stepped up, as second-year guard Jase Richardson (15 points), two-way center Colin Castleton (15), guard Lester Quinones (15) and second-year forward Noah Fancher—listed as Noah Penda in some reports (12)—combined for 57 points in the five-point win. The Magic trailed by six at halftime after Miami dominated the paint early, but they flipped the script in the third, outscoring the Heat 33-18 over the shortened 10-minute Summer League period to take control.
For Miami, Trevor Keels (32) and Jahmir Young (27) carried a heavy load, combining for 59 points, though they managed just 25 points in the second half as Orlando surged ahead. Castleton did most of his damage in the painted area, contributing a handful of baskets near the rim and knocking down one 3-pointer from the top of the key. He also competed against a size matchup that included facing off against Heat big men such as 7-foot-1 rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner earlier in the week and 7-footer Vladislav Goldin on this night, even exchanging some sharp post defense and interior contact.
Penda, who started slowly by taking only one shot in the opening quarter and facing multiple defenders at times, finished with some notable moments. He punctuated his afternoon with a difficult step-back three early in the third and later delivered a critical block on Goldin with 15.1 seconds remaining, though he finished with six turnovers overall. Magic rookie Izaiyah Nelson, the second-round pick, contributed on defense and playmaking in 17 minutes, often directing traffic and recording two steals and a block. He added six points, two assists and two rebounds, while Orlando’s bench outscored Miami’s 32-8, underscoring the depth and energy the young squad brought to the floor.
Off the bench, TyTy Washington Jr. and Philip Wheeler each supplied nine points, providing additional scoring bursts as the Magic pushed the pace and tried to sprint the floor at every opportunity. The fast-break approach, however, came with its own set of growing pains, as Orlando committed a number of turnovers that allowed Miami to stay within striking distance; the Heat finished with 13 points off 19 Orlando turnovers, illustrating the tempo-upside but also the carelessness that can accompany a quick-started pace.
Jamal Cain, who had previously spent time with Miami on a two-way deal, was in attendance for the matchup, along with several members of Orlando’s front office: president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman, general manager Anthony Parker, senior advisor to the president of basketball operations John Hammond, and executive vice president of basketball operations Pete D’Alessandro. The gathering highlighted the cross-town intrigue and the close ties between the two franchises as they continued to develop their young players during Summer League play.
Orlando now faces a quick turnaround, returning to Cox Pavilion on Sunday for back-to-back action against the Portland Trail Blazers at 7 p.m. on ESPNU, continuing the team’s efforts to refine their rotations, develop bench depth, and sharpen decision-making in real-game contexts.
For more updates and analysis, Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com.