ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tyler Johnson scored 20 of his 25 points in the third quarter as Miami defeated the Orlando Magic 115-91 Sunday and delivered Heat coach Eric Spoelstra his 500th coaching victory.
Johnson made just his fourth start of the season and hit five 3-pointers in the third quarter, finishing off one with a four-point play. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter.
Spoelstra, Miami’s coach since the 2008-09 season, has a career coaching record of 500-336 and has won two NBA titles.
Jonathan Isaac hit two free throws with 3:29 left in the first half punctuated a 16-2 run that cut Orlando’s deficit to five points.
Heat: F Rodney McGruder, the only player to have started Miami’s first 31 games, was a last-minute scratch due to a stomach ailment. Tyler Johnson took his spot in the starting lineup. ... Miami held a sixth straight opponent under 100 points. ... The Heat lead the Florida series 65-53.
Magic: F Jonathon Simmons played 20 minutes after missing Friday’s game at Chicago with a sprained right ankle. ... The Magic are 2-6 since winning in Miami on Dec. 4.