Orlando Magic Featured Matchup: Nikola Vucevic vs. Karl-Anthony Towns
The Orlando Magic will face No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns and a surprising Minnesota Timberwolves team that has made big strides from last year’s disaster.
86. . 38. Final.
Time/TV:
8 p.m./FSFlorida
Line:
Timberwolves by 2
Tickets:Season Series:
Orlando Magic 104, Timberwolves 101in Orlando on Nov. 18; Tonight in Minneapolis
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | 98.5 | 100.7 | 99.3 | 48.2 | 26.2 | 14.7 | 22.9 |
| Minnesota | 99.3 | 100.9 | 100.7 | 48.0 | 22.5 | 15.1 | 33.0 |
Getting a No. 1 overall pick had a way of turning franchises around. Getting the No. 1 pick in back-to-back years can do it all the more so.
After trading Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers for 2014 No. 1 overall pick, Andrew Wiggins, the Timberwolves have become a force in the Western Conference with the 2015 No. 1 overall pick, Karl-Anthony Towns.
Wiggins is the top scorer on Minnesota while Towns ranks No. 3 in scoring and leads the team in rebounding at 9.4 per game.
While Wiggins is the budding star and averaging 21.8 points per game, this matchup will focus on the interior. Towns will square off against Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic in a battle that will feature the mid-range game as much as the blocks.
Towns is sort of like a more athletic and better defending Vucevic. Towns blocks 2.18 shots per game and does so in 28 minutes per night. His 14.6 points per game come on 52.6 percent shooting.
He is a rookie sensation, and Vucevic will have a tough time with the one-and-done from Kentucky.
Towns had a nice game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night, hitting 8 of 13 from the floor en route to 17 points, eight rebounds, three steals and a block as the Wolves fell 107-99. Prior to that, Towns had attempted just 18 shots in his previous three games, but he did connect on half of those.
In the teams’ first meeting in Orlando on Nov. 18, Towns scored 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting with 12 rebounds and six blocks. That includes a game-saving block on a Tobias Harris layup as time expired in regulation.
He can be efficient and is coming into his own as a player.
Vucevic meanwhile has seen his numbers dip this season as the Magic have developed a much more well-rounded attack. He is posting 15.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Vucevic’s defense has stepped up a notch, and it is showing in his 2.00 blocks/steals per game.
Nowhere was that dip more apparent than in that first matchup with Towns and the Timberwolves. Vucevic scored only eight points on 4-for-13 shooting in 16:09. Vucevic did not play in the second half and overtime after his lackluster first half.
Vucevic is still Orlando’s most efficient scorer, turning the ball over just 1.3 times per game despite being a focus of Orlando’s offense. Vucevic is the only starter not averaging more than 30 minutes per game, but that enables him to play higher energy basketball while on the court.
His PER is 21.2 this season, a testament to the fact Vucevic is still playing far above average at his position (15).
Towns and Vucevic can both step out on the court and are featured heavily in pick and rolls. While Towns may be a rookie, Vucevic will be wise not to underestimate him or the Wolves.
Minnesota will look to get Towns involved to work away at Orlando’s only low post threat.
While Wiggins and Victor Oladipo may drop some jaws with high-flying dunks, the battle in the post between Towns and Vucevic looms as a key in this game.
Next: Where do the Orlando Magic rank statistically?
Towns has great dexterity and an array of impressive moves, and the Magic will be getting a look at the future of this league with Minnesota’s great blend of veterans and blue chip prospects.