His coach, Erik Spoelstra, also agrees that more could be expected.

"He's a naturally gifted rebounder," Spoelstra said. "(But) it's a different level of athletic (talent) and physicality he's learning how to deal with. When he puts his mind to it and when he's aggressive, when he shows and uses his athleticism, he can get some of those rebounds in traffic."

Guard Dwyane Wade said Beasley, at 20, still has to adjust to playing against men, after spending just a single college season at Kansas State before going No. 2 overall in the 2008 NBA Draft.

"I think he should be around the eight or nine mark," Wade said, with Beasley well shy of that mark. "But, at the same time, it's about getting a feel for rebounding. It's all different in this game. It's not just about who can out-jump who.

"In college, a lot of times you're more athletic than the other guys. You can just go over the top and get it. In this game, it's not like that. He's just got to figure out other ways to rebound the basketball. He'll figure it out."

Not necessarily bulky for an NBA power forward, Beasley appreciates that he has to rebound by other means. His next challenge is Friday night, against Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood and the Wizards.

"I think I'm a good jumper," Beasley said. "I think I'm quicker off my feet than most guys. That allows me to get rebounds."

And, Beasley insisted, the rebounds will come.

"I've got to work a tad bit harder," he said, "because it's bigger, stronger guys. But, like I said, once you turn that switch on, once I tell myself rebounding is the focus point, it's a cakewalk."

HEAT 99, MAGIC 98: Michael Beasley's putback dunk off a missed Dwyane Wade jumper gave the Heat only its second victory in its last 14 meetings with the Magic. Wade helped rally the Heat from a late 11-point deficit with 16 points in the final period, shooting 9-of-9 from the line in the quarter.