The Magic kept trying to go to what seemed like an empty well. This a night after seeing a second-half double-digit lead evaporate and then seeing it happen again.
Orlando had been here before. The team just needed something to finally roll in.
And so throughout the second half, the Magic kept feeding Nikola Vucevic on block, watching him get pushed off his spot and struggle with the veteran savvy and rim protection provided by Samuel Dalembert. When he finally worked his way up and under Dalembert for the bucket, it felt like the Magic were ready to break through.
Channing Frye his a key jumper with about a minute left, hitting a fading jumper over the defense to give the Magic a four-point lead. From there, Orlando held on thanks to three free throws from Evan Fournier. Carmelo Anthony made the team nervous with an answer on the other end and it was a two-point lead entering the final possession.
J.R. Smith‘s desperation heave fell off the backboard left and gave the Magic a 96-94 victory at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. The Magic found a way a night after everything seemed to go wrong in the fourth quarter. It did not matter how they did it, they just did it.
| Score | Off. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
| Orlando | 97 | 106.5 | 51.4 | 12.1 | 11.6 | 45.7 |
| New York | 95 | 105.4 | 47.7 | 25.0 | 8.9 | 16.3 |
Orlando is quickly learning this with each passing game. To see the Magic have to hold off a late rally on the road a night after failing to do so was probably the best thing that could have happened.
There were certainly hushed tones after the Magic’s loss to the Raptors on Tuesday. The team knew they let one slip away with poor execution down the stretch. From the beginning of Wednesday’s game, the Magic were sharp offensively and getting the shots they want.
It started with Evan Fournier attacking the basket and scoring in a very efficient manner. Fournier scored a career-high 28 points with 14 free throw attempts (10 makes) and two 3-pointers. His true shooting percentage rose to 69.4 percent for the game. Half of Fournier’s 14 field goal attempts came at the rim. He was getting into the lane and creating for himself and others.
The Magic moved the ball too for 20 assists on 33 field goals. Elfrid Payton had eight of those, most in the first half.
The Magic though will look at this game and point to the way they finished it.
Evan Fournier got where he wanted and landed a career night for his effort. Photo by Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Orlando held a 10-point lead after scoring the first four points of the third quarter. But the team succumbed to some turnover issues, missed shots and overthinking on offense. The Knicks took advantage with Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith beginning to dial things up. This is a team that can catch an offensive spark in a hurry.
Like Tuesday night, the Magic withstood the storm. Not an easy thing to do with a young team.
More than that, Orlando withstood the storm and maintained control of the game. They battled back against Carmelo Anthony’s 27 points and 10-for-17 shooting. It never seemed like the Knicks could get that one field goal to get the team over the top and into the lead, or at least firm control. When the Knicks did take the lead, the Magic quickly answered.
In all, Orlando attacked and made shots. They shot 47.1 percent from the floor and took 32 free throws in the game. They limited turnovers. This, in other words, was very close to how the offense is meant to run. Minus some of the isolations set up for Tobias Harris in the third quarter and Nikola Vucevic in the fourth quarter. When the Magic got into their swing offense and moved the ball around the perimeter, finding holes to attack the basket in the midst of the Knicks’ rotations, the offense was beautiful.
Harris scored 12 points, struggling to make shots. He had nine in quick succession as Orlando took control of the game in the second quarter. Vucevic ended with 20 points and 13 rebounds.
Sure, the Magic were not able to pull away. Elfrid Payton failed to provide much of a scoring punch. Jacque Vaughn once again went with Luke Ridnour for the entire fourth quarter. Fournier was the one really running point at the end of the game. He was so good attacking the basket and creating for the Magic that no one else could really have the ball at the end. His pick and rolls at the end of the game helped set up Channing Frye with the smaller Tim Hardaway Jr. on him for the big shot.
This was Fournier and the Magic’s game to finish.
They successfully did that to earn a much-needed, and much-deserved, road win.