NBA
Turnovers Allow Sixers to Steal A Road Win in Orlando
Published
9 years agoon
By
FNN SPORTS
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Philadelphia forced Orlando into 21 turnovers, including 3 in the final 2:50 seconds and T.J. McConnell’s jumper with 5.8 seconds left, allowing the 76ers to win a close game against the Orlando Magic Thursday night by a score of 112-111.
The Sixers entered the game without star rookie center Joel Embiid, who missed the last seven games due to a knee injury, and rookie Ben Simmons who has not played a single minute since injuring his foot in preseason. Despite that, they produced a total team effort. Philadelphia’s other talented rookie Dario Saric led them in scoring off the bench with 24 points (his third straight 20+ point effort). He also added 8 rebounds and three important 3-point baskets.
Speaking of the Sixers bench, they scored 65 points as a group. Outside of Saric’s 24 points, they also got 13 from Nik Stauskas and 12 from Sergio Rodriguez.
“We don’t win tonight without the bench. They were unbelievable. They came in and picked us up. All credit to them, they did an incredible job.” -T.J. McConnell, 76ers Point Guard
Orlando was in control most of the game, even though their starting Small Forward Aaron Gordon was not available due to a foot injury. (He could be available for Saturday’s game in Dallas.) Magic Head Coach Frank Vogel decided to use a three-guard lineup with Mario Hezonja getting the start with C.J. Watson and Evan Fournier. Mario had 3 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 18 minutes.
“Yes, it’s a bad loss. There’s no other way to say it. We should’ve won by 15 tonight, maybe 20. We just kept letting them come back into the game, so, yes, a bad loss.” – Evan Founier on the Magic letting the lead slip away
But key defensive lapses late in the game spoiled what would have been a huge win for the team as they go on a two-game road trip starting this weekend in Dallas. After Elfrid Payton’s layup with 7:16 left in the 4th quarter to give the Magic a 98-90 lead, the Sixers defense and Saric took control.
In just over a 3-minute period after the layup, Philadelphia got a block from Nerlens Noel on D.J. Augustin, a key steal from Robert Covington and forced the Magic into missing all three shots on defense and Saric scored 7 of the 8 Sixers points to tie score at 98. Saric continued to go through the Magic defense by effectively scoring off the pick and roll and finding easy baskets in the final quarter.
Orlando took a 111-110 lead on Nikola Vucevic’s jump hook over McConnell with 26.7 seconds left, which brought the crowd to its feet. But after Ersan Ilyasova’s jump ball win over Evan Fournier with 14.6 seconds left, it allowed McConnell to go one-on-one with Watson and he hit a pull-up jumper in the paint to give Philadelphia the win.
“This is my so-called second career game winner in however many years of playing basketball so I can’t be that clutch but I heard Joel (Embiid) had different words to say so I’ll let him be the judge.” – McConnell on his game winning shot
Points Of Interest:
- Orlando held Philadelphia to 42.9% shooting from the floor
- Only one Sixers starter scored in double-figures — Ilyasova had 16
- Philadelphia had 13 steals in the game, led by Robert Covington, McConnell and Saric who all had 3 apiece
Danny Thompson is a sports reporter for Florida National News.
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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.
