Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic Send Lebron and Friends To Third Straight Loss

Orlando, Florida.  The Miami Heat have been having a woeful Thanksgiving week, with losses to the Memphis Grizzlies and the Indiana Pacers, but everyone probably knows that with the excessive coverage of Lebron James and the most overrated team in history. And a visit to Eastern Conference contender, the Orlando Magic, was not going to make it better.

Miami's weak frontline recently got weaker with the loss of Udonis Haslem to injury, probably for the entire season. Haslem was truly the only source of toughness in the paint for a Miami Heat team that rebuilt their frontcourt from scratch around Lebron James and Chris Bosh. During Miami's loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Haslem went down with a strained left foot and had to be carried off the court; he will have surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left foot that will probably end his season.

Despite Miami's injury woes, Dwight Howard didn't seem to feel sorry for the Heat big men, as he went for 24 points and 18 rebounds (matching the rebound total for Miami's starting frontline of Bosh, Lebron, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas) in completely dominating Miami's frontcourt. Jameer Nelson, J. J. Redick, and Brandon Bass made huge contributions, as well, in the team driven victory.

Dwight Howard dunks over the Miami friends as the Magic hand the Heat their third straight loss.

Meanwhile, the story for Miami was Dwayne Wade's continuing shooting woes, as he put up 18 points on 6 of 21 shooting. In two games since missing the game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Wade has made only 7 of his 34 shots (20.6%) and has only made 1 of 8 3-pointers (12.5%); the Heat have lost both games.

Orlando was able to avenge a loss to Miami earlier this season in the Heat's home opener on October 29.