Orlando Magic Grades: Orlando Magic 119, New Orleans Pelicans 96
The Orlando Magic were locked in defensively from the start and they dominated the New Orleans Pelicans for a big home win, their fifth in a row at Amway.
38. Final. 96. 69. 119
The Orlando Magic were going to be first to every ball.
That was abundantly clear from the tip as the Orlando Magic deflected and repelled everything at the rim in their attempt to slow down the New Orleans Pelicans. Nothing was going to be easy and everything was going to belong to the Magic from the start.
And the Magic made that abundantly clear at the end of the first quarter.
Terrence Ross started to heat up, drawing a foul on a made 3-pointer for yet another four-point play opportunity. But he missed the free throw.
Khem Birch fought his way for position and got the rebound, finding Terrence Ross again out at the 3-point line to drain another three. With 0.8 seconds left in the quarter, the Magic had completed a rare six-point possession and taken a commanding 39-25 lead after one quarter.
New Orleans never really got close in an 119-96 Orlando win at Amway Center on Wednesday.
The Magic were on point on both ends fo the floor for most of the night. Whether it was Nikola Vucevic hitting a touch pass to D.J. Augustin who touched it to Jonathan Isaac for an alley-oop or just digging out an offensive rebound to keep a possession alive — Orlando had 20 of those for 19 second-chance points — the ball was moving quickly and the Magic were getting to the glass as quickly as possible. They were first it seemed to every loose ball.
When the team made mistakes, it was quick to recover, challenging and swatting shots with ease. Orlando committed 11 turnovers in the first half, which put a damper on the team’s overall defensive efforts. But New Orleans had a difficult time making anything, shooting just 34.8 percent for the game.
The Pelicans cut the lead to 15 early in the third quarter after a slew of Magic turnovers. But impressively, Orlando did not give up many points off those miscues and then righted the ship behind a pair of Aaron Gordon 3-pointers. The Magic were clearly locked in and going to win this one running away.
Orlando had its deep bench in for the final five minutes of the game. Orlando just coasted to a victory.
A-. When <a href=. G/F. Orlando Magic. EVAN FOURNIER
<a href=. F. Orlando Magic. AARON GORDON. A+
Orlando Magic. D.J. AUGUSTIN. A. <a href=. PG
Terrence Ross can catch fire in a hurry. Everyone knows this and everyone cannot stop it when it happens. He comes around screens and does not need much of a window to get his shot off. And once he has a rhythm, it is lights out.<p>He found that rhythm in this game, making 7 of 13 shots, including five 3-pointers to finish with 19 points. That is what Ross does. There is no stopping him when he gets on a roll. And he got on a roll in this one, providing some big shots to help the Magic extend the lead and build momentum.</p>. G/F. Orlando Magic. TERRENCE ROSS. A
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS. D. The New Orleans Pelicans found out in the morning that <a rel=. 31-43. 12th West
The Orlando Magic’s homestand continues Friday when the Magic take on the Memphis Grizzlies. The Orlando Magic trail the Miami Heat by one game for the final spot in the Playoffs (the Heat are playing the San Antonio Spurs at the time of publishing).
Next. Orlando Magic's first quarters matter. dark
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