Orlando Magic Grades: Memphis Grizzlies 102, Orlando Magic 97
The Orlando Magic opened up their preseason with a solid, if not still sloppy performance, against the Memphis Grizzlies.
38. Final. 102. 211. 97
The Orlando Magic came out shooting in their opening preseason game. The pent-up energy of a long offseason boiled over as the team took control.
In the end, though, it was shooting that did them in.
Wayne Seldon hit a step-back 3-pointer with 26 seconds left to give the Memphis Grizzlies the lead for good. The Magic’s turnover issues in the first preseason game of the year took one final victim. Stephen Zimmerman lost the ball on an inbounds and the Grizzlies secured the ball to make free throws and run out the clock for the win.
Until that point though, the Magic seemed to take on the traits Frank Vogel wants from his team, particularly on offense, and build up from their foundation.
Evan Fournier got out and scored 18 points in 23 minutes, making seven of his nine shots and hitting three of five 3-pointers. Nikola Vucevic dished out five assists in grabbing 11 points and nine rebounds. He hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer too, pushing the ball himself after picking up a rebound.
The Magic moved quickly up the floor and were not afraid to be aggressive with their shots — perhaps their 20-plus turnovers was a sign of that as much as anything.
Orlando still has a long way to go. There is a lot of work to do.
Especially since the Magic were without Elfrid Payton (sprain left hip flexor), Aaron Gordon (sprained ankle) and Serge Ibaka (knee soreness), this is hardly the full team the Magic will have. Orlando was experimenting with some combination the team may not use often — such as pairing Nikola Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo together, a duo Frank Vogel admitted after the game might see limited action together when the season begins.
The Magic though made more than the best with what they had on the roster. They found a solid offensive flow and had their defensive moments. While the main players were in, the Magic held their own with a Playoff team from the Western Conference and had control for the most part.
This game was just the first step for the Magic. The first of many.
Orlando has something to grow from and build off of after this first game. Things did begin to take hold for the Magic.
Next: Orlando Magic's first preseason game an extended practice
<p>Evan Fournier certainly has a lot of scoring load on him this season after <strong><a rel=. SG. Orlando Magic. EVAN FOURNIER. A
B+. <p>Nikola Vucevic remains the bedrock and cornerstone for the Orlando Magic’s offense. The team will flow through him. And no player has probably had to adjust more than Vucevic. That showed itself again when he was paired with Bismack Biyombo.</p><p>But Vucevic was still the offense’s fulcrum. He looked to move the ball in the first half before looking for his offense in the second. And he can move the ball one of the best passing big men in the league. He dished out five assists to help spread the ball around. Vucevic also showed some expanded range.</p><p>Vucevic’s offensive efficiency still was not great in scoring 11 points to go with nine rebounds. He made just 4 of 12 shots in the game. That could very well be knocking off some rust and continuing to adjust to having another big like Biyombo in the lineup next to him.</p>. C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC
MARIO HEZONJA. C. <p>With Aaron Gordon out of the lineup, <strong><a rel=. G/F. Orlando Magic
BRANDEN DAWSON. B+. <p>Of the Orlando Magic’s camp invitees, no one may have played better in this game than <strong><a rel=. F. Orlando Magic
<p>It is hard to find fault in what the Memphis Grizzlies did in this game either. Both teams really saw exactly what they wanted to see.</p><p>Grizzlies stars <strong><a rel=. . . MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES. B