Dwight Howard may have pushed the proverbial ball into the Orlando Magic’s court tonight.

After a 104-98 overtime win against the Miami HEAT, Howard revealed that despite the NBA’s March 15 trade deadline looming, he’s told the Magic that he would like to finish the season in Orlando, and believes the team can contend as currently constructed.

“I told these guys what I’ve been telling them for the past two or three weeks now,” Howard explained. “ I want to stay and finish the season.”

“I told them I feel we’ve got a great opportunity to win and I told them that I want to be here. I want to bring a championship here and I told them they’ve got to give me that chance.”

via Steve Kyler of HOOPSWORLD