Magic Vs. Heat: Schedule, TV Info And More

LeBron James and the Miami Heat host Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic Sunday afternoon in a game that's being given undercard status after the main event of Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks against the Dallas Mavericks, but the two top teams in the Southeast Division figure to have themselves a game of their own in Miami.

The Heat have won five straight games by an average of 18.8 points apiece, in the process looking like the unbeatable juggernaut the punditry predicted they would be. They've used stout defense, fast-break scoring at the league's highest efficiency and have gotten solid outside shooting from Mike Miller, Shane Battier and three-point contest participants Mario Chalmers and James Jones.

The Heat's lone weakness just happens to be the Magic's greatest strength: the paint. With Howard, Orlando routinely dominates the inside on both ends of the floor. Offensively, it makes teams collapse to cover him, which leads to kickouts to three-point shooters who have been on fire in February. How on fire? Well, after losing five of their last six games in January, the Magic have won eight of 10 so far in February, making this game a matchup of the two hottest teams in the East (aside from the one with that Lin fella).

Game Date/Time: Sunday, Feb. 19, 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: ABC (National)

For news and info on these two teams, visit Heat blog Peninsula is Mightier and Magic blog Orlando Pinstriped Post.