NBA
Magic 114, Pacers 106: Postgame Report
Published
9 years agoon
By
FNN SPORTS
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Source: Orlando Magic // Weeks before the Orlando Magic convened for training camp or ever ran their first set together, head coach Frank Vogel speculated that the team had the potential to be the deepest and most versatile one he had ever coached.
Vogel had good reason to think that what with the revamped Magic possessing a Noah’s Arc type of roster in that they are two- and three-deep at every position with talented veterans.
On Friday night, the Magic showed off their impressive depth by riding a couple of emotional surges provided by the second unit for the squad’s first victory of the preseason.
Much to the delight of an appreciative Amway Center crowd of 14,097, Orlando’s reserves had a second-quarter stretch where they made 14 of 16 shots and six straight 3-point shots. When the starters struggled again in the third period and lost the lead, Orlando’s depth and versatility prevailed again as another second-unit surge proved to be the difference in the Magic’s 114-106 defeat of Indiana.
“(The second quarter) was excellent and I think it was a great display of basketball,’’ said reserve forward Damjan Rudez, who continued to improve his chances of making the regular-season roster with 11 points, five assists, four rebounds and three 3-pointers. “The fans clearly enjoyed it and we showed a glimpse of what we want to look like this year. The fast pace, everybody sharing the ball, helping on defense – I think our hard work we put in training camp is starting to pay off and I’m glad the fans got to see a little bit of it today.’’
Jeff Green scored 16 points, C.J. Wilcox had 12 points and three 3-pointers and C.J. Watson added 10 assists and eight points to lead an Orlando bench that was the difference all night.
The victory for the Magic (1-3) allowed Vogel to defeat an Indiana team that refused to extend his contract following last season. Vogel led the Pacers to five playoff berths in 5 ½ seasons as head coach, but was shocking let go last May. That proved to be a boon for the Magic, who quickly hired Vogel to be the leader of their much-improved team.
Vogel shared a pregame and postgame embrace with George, Indy’s star forward and his close friend, and he twice shook hands with coach Nate McMillan. After that, Vogel treated the game like any other, barking out orders to his Orlando players and working the referees for calls.
“It was great to get this win because we’re trying to change the culture into a winning culture, so it was important to get this one,’’ said Magic point guard Elfrid Payton, who had 11 points and four steals in 30 minutes. “I know Coach Frank probably wanted this one too, so it was good to get it for him.’’
In something of an odd twist to this disjointed game, Orlando was outscored by 11 points in the first quarter and by 13 points in the third period. However, thanks to the reserves and a strong closing punch by Ibaka Orlando won the second quarter by 21 points and the final 12 minutes by 11 points.
“(The substitutes) were great. They changed the game completely around,’’ Vogel said. “Obviously, if you score 44 points in the second quarter and hold the other team to 23, that was probably the deciding run.’’
Myles Turner scored 17 points for the Pacers (3-2), while Jeff Teague chipped in 16 and Thaddeus Young had 15.
Orlando rested standout guard Evan Fournier and veteran point guard D.J. Augustin on Friday, allowing Mario Hezonja to start on the wing and Watson to play big minutes as a reserve. Fournier has been Orlando’s best player all preseason, averaging 17.3 points on 59.4 percent shooting in the first three games.
Orlando will be back at the Amway Center on Sunday night to host former Magic center Dwight Howard and the Atlanta Hawks. After facing the Heat in Miami on Tuesday, Orlando will conclude the preseason on Thursday at the Amway Center against the New Orleans Pelicans. The regular-season opener – also at the Amway Center – will be on Oct. 26 against Miami.
Orlando used a 10-1 burst from the reserves in the fourth quarter to re-take the lead. Later, Ibaka drilled a 3-pointer that put Orlando up 98-97 – a lead it wouldn’t lose the rest of the night. Ibaka feels he is rounding back into shape after missing 10 days of practice time with a bruised knee.
Up 10 at the half following a stellar second period, Orlando frittered away the lead because of more struggles by the starters. The Magic got outscored 34-21 in the third period, dropping them into an 87-84 hole heading into the final quarter.
Through three quarters, every Magic starter was a negative in the plus/minus category during their time on the floor. Hezonja, for example, was a minus-25 in his 24 minutes on the floor, while Payton was a minus-19 despite some strong play early in the game.
The Magic led 63-53 at intermission, but their play in the first and second quarters couldn’t have been more different.
Orlando got off to an extremely shaky start, turning the ball over 10 times (for 15 Indiana points) and allowing seven fastbreak points in the first quarter – two points of emphasis coming into the game. Those troubles put the Magic in an ominous 30-19 hole.
However, a second unit sparked by Bismack Biyombo (nine points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots), Rudez, Green, Watson and Wilcox flipped the script in the second period. Sparked by the hustle of Biyombo (six points and seven rebounds in the first half), the shooting of Wilcox (eight points and two 3-pointers) and Rudez (eight points, five assists and two threes) and the heady playmaking of Green (11 points and two 3-pointers) and Watson (six points and six assists), the Magic gashed Indiana to the tune of 44-23 in the second period alone. During one stretch of the second quarter, Orlando outscored Indiana 32-7 to blow out to a 51-37 lead.
Rudez, who played previously for Vogel in Indiana and had the biggest game of his career in Orlando two years ago, came into the game having made all five of his shots and four 3-pointers this preseason. He made his first three attempts on Friday, including two 3-pointers before finally missing with 3:18 left in the half. His ability to shoot from the outside, run the floor and make plays for others has given him a good chance to make good on his training camp invite and make the regular-season roster.
“Maybe our highest IQ player on the team,’’ Vogel said of Rudez. “He just really has a great feel for the game. He’s a knock-down shooter, so there’s a reason that he’s here. He has had a great camp for us.’
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NBA
Orlando Magic Rally Late to Beat Washington Wizards 122-112
Published
3 years agoon
March 21, 2023
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – The Orlando Magic had a lot of ground to make up for at home after their long road run, and the Washington Wizards didn’t make it easy on them–their defense greatly frustrated the Magic.
First Half
The Wizards led most of the first quarter, especially since the Magic made none of their three-pointers…until Moritz Wagner came in off the bench with just over two minutes left in the first. With a couple of shots, he switched the lead to Orlando by a single point at the end of the first quarter, 26-25.
Cole Anthony got a nice and-1 after his rebound from a failed Wizard free throw. Bradley Beal fouled him as he ran into the paint, but Anthony’s fadeaway shot was successful as he fell to the floor.
In the second quarter the Wizards regained the lead, but like in the first quarter, the Magic rallied near the end of the quarter. When Gary Harris, Markelle Fultz and the other Wagner, Franz, got back on the court, the Magic began sinking more shots.
Mo Wagner contributed 11 points in the first two quarters, while Franz, Harris and Anthony each followed with 10 points. The Magic also made up for their three-pointer deficit in second quarter. They were seven of 17 (41.2 percent) on threes in the first half compared to the Wizards’ five of 15 (33.3 percent) and were 23 of 43 on field goals (53.5 percent) compared to the Wizards’ 21 of 40 (52.5 percent).
For Washington, Deni Avdija and Monte Morris led the scoring with 12 points each; Kristaps Porzingis followed with 11 points.
The Magic secured a four-point lead heading into halftime, 60-56.
Second Half
The Magic ended third quarter one point behind, 88-87.
The Magic brought the fire in the fourth quarter, getting on a run between Markelle Fultz, Wendell Carter Jr. and Paolo Banchero, who went to the free throw line three times late in the fourth and nailed every free throw. The highlight play of the second half happened within the final minute of the game: Banchero had pressure on him and made an ugly fadeaway baseline three-pointer…and sank it in.
The most critical hit of all was Bradley Beal fouling out of the game, which dealt a huge blow to the Wizards’ offense in the final stretch. Porzingis tried to pick up the slack, but the Magic saw the blood in the water and piled on the pressure, closing out the game with a 10-point win, 122-112.
For the night, Gary Harris led in scoring for the Magic with 22 points, going six for nine on three pointers and seven for 10 on field goals. Franz Wagner followed with 20 points with four rebounds and six assists. Banchero contributed 18 points and was six of six on free throws. Fultz contributed 17 points with five rebounds and five assists.
For the Wizards, Porzingis led the scoring by far, with 30 total points, six rebounds and three assists. Beal followed with 16 points, five rebounds and seven assists.
__________________________________
Mellissa Thomas is Editor for Florida National News. | mellissa.thomas@floridanationalnews.com
NBA
Orlando Magic to induct Dennis Scott into their Hall of Fame March 23
Published
3 years agoon
March 7, 2023By
FNN SPORTS
Orlando, FL – The Orlando Magic will induct Dennis Scott into their Hall of Fame on Thursday, March 23 at 3:45 p.m. in Amway Center, near the Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience.** Scott will become the 12th member of the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.
In addition to the induction ceremony, Scott will be honored that night during Orlando’s game vs. New York. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. and tickets are available through OrlandoMagic.com or by calling 1-800-4-NBATIX.
“Dennis (Scott) still remains one of the elite, long-range shooters in both Orlando Magic and NBA history,” said Martins. “His ability to shoot from beyond the three-point arc was a major key to our success during his time in Orlando and his records stand to this day. We are proud to make Dennis the next inductee into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.”
Originally selected in the first round (fourth overall) of the 1990 NBA Draft by Orlando, Scott played seven seasons with the Magic from 1990-97. He played in 446 regular season games (322 starts) with Orlando, averaging 14.8 ppg., 3.1 rpg. and 2.3 apg. in 30.7 minpg., while shooting .403 (981-2,432) from three-point range.
During the 1995-96 campaign, Scott set a then-NBA single season-record with 267 three-pointers made, a standard that lasted for ten years. The 267 three-pointers made remains the franchise record for most made in a season. On April 18, 1996 vs. Atlanta, Scott connected on 11 three-pointers, breaking the then-NBA single game-record, a mark that lasted for almost seven seasons. The 11 three-pointers made also remains the franchise record for most made in a game.
Scott also appeared in 41 playoff games (31 starts) with Orlando, averaging 12.2 ppg., 3.0 rpg. and 1.9 apg. in 33.8 minpg., while shooting .364 (92-253) from three-point range. On May 25, 1995 vs. Indiana, he made seven three-pointers during Game #2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, setting a franchise playoff-record that still stands today. Scott helped the Magic reach the 1995 NBA Finals.
Scott remains the Orlando Magic all-time leader in three-pointers made with 981. Entering this season, he also ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in three-point field goals attempted (second, 2,432), field goals attempted (seventh, 5,737), games played (eighth, 446), steals (eighth, 429), points scored (tenth, 6,603), field goals made (tenth, 2,421) and minutes played (tenth, 13,692).
The Orlando Magic unveiled its inaugural Hall of Fame class on April 9, 2014 with the first two inductees, Magic co-founder Pat Williams and the team’s first-ever draft pick and current community ambassador, Nick Anderson. Scott also joins Shaquille O’Neal (2015), the late Rich DeVos (2016), Anfernee Hardaway (2017), Jimmy Hewitt (2017), Tracy McGrady (2018), David Steele (2019), Darrell Armstrong (2020), John Gabriel (2022) and Brian Hill (2022) in the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.
The Orlando Magic Hall of Fame honors and celebrates the great players, coaches and executives who have had a major impact during the team’s illustrious 34-year history. It bridges the past with the future of Magic basketball, and the exhibit, located in Amway Center on the terrace level near Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience, provides Magic fans an opportunity to learn some Magic history while in the building. The inductees are selected based on their overall on and off the court contributions to the team and organization, years of service, impact in the community and general character of the individual.
NBA
Jonathan Isaac to Miss Remainder of 2022-23 Regular Season Due to Another Injury
Published
3 years agoon
March 3, 2023By
FNN SPORTS
ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac underwent surgery on Friday morning to repair a torn left adductor muscle and will miss the remainder of the 2022-23 regular season. An MRI conducted Wednesday revealed the injury, after he felt discomfort following Tuesday’s practice in Milwaukee.
“Our thoughts are with Jonathan, whose fortitude in dealing with adversity is unique,” said Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman. “Jonathan has worked extremely hard to return to the court this season and has demonstrated his impact on our team. We will be by his side as he focuses on the work ahead.”
Isaac (6’10”, 230, 10/3/97) played in 11 games this season, averaging 5.0 ppg., 4.0 rpg. and 1.27 stlpg. in 11.3 minpg.
Originally selected in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2017 NBA Draft by Orlando, Isaac has appeared in 147 career NBA regular season games (106 starts), all with the Magic, averaging 9.0 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 1.0 apg., 1.43 blkpg. and 1.08 stlpg. in 24.7 minpg. He has also played and started in five career playoff outings, averaging 6.6 ppg., 6.2 rpg. and 1.00 blkpg. in 27.3 minpg.
