Tip is set for 7:00 pm EST. The story of the game was Rashard Lewis’ comeback after serving a 10-game suspension, but now there is another headline: Stephen Jackson was acquired from the Golden State Warrios Monday morning and will play for the Bobcats tonight.
You can find my preview here.
Starters
Orlando
Dwight Howard
Rashard Lewis
Mickael Pietrus
Vince Carter
Jameer Nelson
Charlotte
Tyson Chandler
Boris Diaw
Gerald Wallace
Stephen Jackson
Raymond Felton
Final: Magic win 97-91.
End of Third Quater: Magic lead 76-68.
- The Magic really turned it up on both ends of the floor in the third quarter.
- The Magic shot 56% from the field (9-of-17) and made five 3-pointers on 11 attempts.
- They held the Bobcats to just 33% shooting (6-of-18) and 16 points.
- Mickael Pietrus hit three of the team’s five 3-pointers in the quarter.
- Rashard Lewis finally got his first field goal with just over 2 minutes to go and made two more after that – he has 8 points.
- Dwight Howard has been passing the ball very well. He found Ryan Anderson for a dunk and later hit Pietrus on a cut. Pietrus threw it behind his back to Rashard Lewis for a layup.
Halftime: Bobcats lead 52-50.
- The Magic allowed the Bobcats to shoot 68% in the quarter (15-of-22). The Bobcats scored 31 points in the period.
- The Magic shot better in the period, shooting 45% (9-of-20), but their defense was awful.
- Dwight Howard has just 7 points on 2-0f-2 shooting because he is once again in foul trouble. He has played just 15 minutes.
- The Bobcats have scored 28 points in the paint to Orlando’s 20.
- The Magic are still in the game for a couple of reasons.
- The Magic have shot the ball better from downtown. Orlando was 3-of-8 from the 3-point line in the second quarter and is 5-of-15 overall. Charlotte has made just one 3-pointer. They have made 11 free throws to the Bobcats’ 4.
- The Magic are also out-rebounding the Bobcats 20-17.
- Vince Carter and Brandon Bass each have 10 points to lead the Magic.
- Boris Diaw scored 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting in the quarter. He has 14 points and is a perfect 7-of-7 from the field in the game. The Magic had no answer for him.
- Rashard Lewis is 0-of-5 from the field and has just 2 points so far.
End of First Quarter: Magic lead 25-21
- Both teams have missed some easy looks.
- Orlando’s offense looks to be more in in synch with Rashard Lewis and Ryan Anderson back, but they are not making shots. They are 8-of-23 from the field and 2-of-7 from downtown.
- The Bobcats are 8-0f-17 and 1-of-4 from downtown.
- Vince Carter isn’t getting to the rim, but he is putting the ball on the floor and making things happen. He’s hit a couple of buckets and even found Brandon Bass for an easy bucket. He has 8 points.
- Dwight Howard had to exit the game with 2 fouls and with Marcin Gortat inactive, Brandon Bass had to play Center. He was very active, scoring 8 points and 4 rebounds.
- The Bobcats had some open looks but the Magic are hustling. Charlotte did, however, get to the basket rather easily at the end of the quarter.
Pregame
- Stephen Jackson is starting for the Bobcats.
- Acie Law will not play tonight.
- It is “Seats for Soldiers” night. Many tickets have been donated to soldiers and their families.
(Andrew Melnick is Howard the Dunk’s lead blogger and a contributor at NFL Mocks Subscribe to his RSS feed and add him on Twitter to follow him daily.)