Who’s In, Who’s Out for Thursday Night?

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Magic return to action after having the Christmas holiday off when they again meet the Miami Heat Thursday night. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. ET from the Kia Center between the Floridian rivals.

It’s been less than a week since these two teams last met. In that Dec. 21 contest, the Magic pulled off one of their most improbable comebacks in franchise history, erasing a 25-point deficit – 22 at the beginning of the fourth quarter – to defeat the Heat.

Orlando, minus their top three scorers heading in and losing their fourth to a season-ending ACL tear less than a quarter in, toppled a Jimmy Butler-less Miami team with a 37-8 fourth-quarter advantage.

The Magic own a 2-0 series advantage this season over the Heat. Ahead of the third of four matchups this season, here’s the latest on player health and status ahead of tipoff.

Banchero will miss his 27th straight game with the torn right oblique suffered Oct. 30 at Chicago. Franz is missing his seventh game with the same injury he picked up Dec. 6 at Philadelphia.

Moe’s season is over after suffering a torn ACL on Dec. 21 at Miami.

Harris is listed as questionable with a left hamstring strain, continuing a trend of being up-in-air to play ahead of contests. He was downgraded to OUT on Monday vs. Boston, which was the 12th straight game he’s missed with the injury picked up Nov. 25 at Charlotte.

Jalen Suggs, who had been dealing with a right ankle sprain but was upgraded to available for Monday’s game versus Boston, is no longer listed on the report.

Before Christmas day games tipped off on Wednesday, reports surfaced from ESPN’s Shams Charania that Butler prefers a trade out of Miami before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Butler missed the Heat’s Dec. 21 and Dec. 23 matchups with a stomach illness, and is listed as doubtful for Thursday’s contest under the designation of return to competition reconditioning.

Richardson has only appeared in eight games for the Heat this season and hasn’t suited up since Nov. 18 vs. Philadelphia.

Rozier has 23 points versus the Magic on Dec. 21, but did not suit up for the Heat’s win over Brooklyn on Dec. 23.

Smith suffered his torn Achilles tendon in his left foot during the Heat’s Dec. 23 win over Brooklyn, ending his season.

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