"Night and day.

The Orlando Magic team that suffered a blowout loss to the Miami Heat on Oct. 29 wilted under pressure, played stagnantly on offense and looked just plain awful.

The Magic team that defeated the Heat 104-95 on Wednesday night answered a late Miami run, played energetically and hit big shots.

"All big games are statement games," Magic forward Rashard Lewis said. "It lets you know that we're going to be there at the end of the season and competing for that title."

The Magic received big performances from Jameer Nelson, J.J. Redick, Dwight Howard and Brandon Bass to deal the sputtering Heat their third straight loss.

Nelson spent much of the night passing the ball.

Until a teammate corrected him.

With the Heat about to complete a fourth-quarter comeback, Bass took Nelson aside.

"It's time for you to let it fly," Bass said.

Nelson did exactly that. With the score tied at 89, Nelson hit a pull-up jumper from the foul line. On the next possession, he drove down the lane and sank a floater. On the possession after that, he logged his career-high 14th assist, driving to the foul line and kicking the ball out to Redick for a jumper.

"I think the first game we played them we didn't make the right plays," said Nelson, who scored 17 points. "Tonight, we did."

Indeed, the Magic (10-4) looked like a different team than the one that was embarrassed in Miami almost a month ago."