The Orlando Magic used a ‘flammable’ third quarter from Jodie Meeks to quiet the Brooklyn Nets and pull away for a victory at the Amway Center.
The Orlando Magic got a little boost of energy when Elfrid Payton beat Brook Lopez down the court and laid it in as the halftime buzzer sounded. It tied the game at 50 and gave the Magic a bit of momentum.
Jodie Meeks made sure to put the Magic firmly in control. Draining long 3-pointers and getting his shot going, Meeks scored his first 18 points, including 13 in a row, to get the Magic moving. That got the team’s transition working and got the team moving with a big more energy and pep.
Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton helped finish off the Brooklyn Nets 115-107 at the Amway Center on Thursday as the Magic held on for victory after a late charge.
"“I feel like everyone has confidence in one another,” Meeks told Orlando Magic Daily. “Me making shots got Aaron a couple lobs. Elfrid got into the open court and was either able to create for himself or others. It kind of trickled down to the rest of the team.”"
Orlando had to rely on a lot of unfamiliar faces throughout the game with Evan Fournier out of the lineup with a wrist injury and coach Frank Vogel opting to sit Terrence Ross for much of the second half in a planned attempt to get recent signees Marcus Georges-Hunt and Patricio Garino more playing time. Even Stephen Zimmerman saw extra playing time in these efforts.
The game still came down to the brilliant transition play from Gordon and Payton. And some timely buckets from Georges-Hunt.
Payton and Gordon dominated in transition as Orlando totaled 19 fast-break points to Brooklyn’s eight. A big advantage considering the Nets’ high-tempo style. Gordon finished more than his share of lobs to get the team some energy in the third quarter particularly.
Georges-Hunt proved critical too. He finished the game for the Magic and hit a baseline runner to fend off the Nets and killed the run with a 3-pointer.