Back In The Day NBA, April 15, 1995: Miami Heat's Glen Rice Scored 56 Against Orlando Magic

 The Miami Heat had already lost every game to the Orlando Magic during the 1994-95 season. 

So Heat forward Glen Rice wasn't going to end the year with another loss. He made sure of that. 

Rice had a career-high 56 points in the Heat's 123-117 victory. 

"I was tired of them kicking our tails," Rice said. "I wasn't going to be denied today."

Rice scored 13 points in the final five minutes in front of a national television audience. He was 20 of 27 from the field, making 7 of 8 from the 3-point line. For many, it was the first time they discovered his great shooting. He was the Heat's third first-round draft pick in franchise history behind Rony Seikaly and Kevin Edwards after leading the Michigan Wolverines to the NCAA championship. 

 Rice's performance that day against Orlando remains one of the greatest moments in Heat history. The scoring record stood for nearly 20 years until LeBron James went for 61 against the Charlotte Bobcats March 3. James needed 33 shots to surpass Rice. 

"Our defensive scheme was the same as it was on him all year long," Magic coach Brian Hill said. "He just made all his shots. It didn't matter who we had on him."

Rice was later traded to the Charlotte Hornets for Alonzo Mourning in a blockbuster deal. It's part of the reason why he is considered a forgotten player in Heat history. He averaged 19.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 478 games but not among the players with his jersey hanging in the rafters. 

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Back In The Day NBA. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com