Orlando Magic Recap: Victor Oladipo’s game-winner lifts Orlando Magic past Chicago Bulls 105-103

Victor Oladipo once again comes up in the clutch for the Orlando Magic as they battled their way past the Chicago Bulls 105-103.

The game is tied with 6.4 seconds left. Your favorite team has the ball.

This is one of the most exciting moments in sports.

How does it get even better?

When your team hits the game-winning shot.

Hats off to Victor Oladipo, who did just that tonight for the Magic in their 105-103 victory over the Bulls at Amway Center.

The Magic appeared to run a clear-out isolation play for Oladipo. Oladipo was defended by a very good defender in Jimmy Butler, but that did not matter. Oladipo shook Butler off the dribble with a nice right to left crossover and Oladipo was off. Oladipo switched to his right mid-drive and finished on the right side through contests by Butler and Joakim Noah.

With 1.4 seconds the Bulls had a chance to tie or win the game, but Victor Oladipo boxed out Pau Gasol on the lob attempt and Orlando ended up with the VIC-tory.

The Magic have now won three games including two wins over playoffs teams.

A big reason for Orlando’s success lately has been their defense. Even on a night like tonight where the Bulls made some really tough 3-pointers the Magic managed to hold the Bulls to only 43 percent shooting overall.

The reason for such an improvement? Rotations.

James Borrego is playing a lot less Channing Frye and Luke Ridnour (out for personal reasons the past three games) and we are seeing more Aaron Gordon and Dewayne Dedmon. Gordon and Dedmon definitely seem to be the team’s two best defenders. Dedmon is clearly the best team defender on the team while Gordon is the best isolation defender.

Gordon embarrassed Bulls rookie Nikola Mirotic on a couple of occasions tonight, he shut Mirotic down and forced some really awful shot clock violations. On top of Gordon’s amazing individual defense his versatility allows the Magic to switch effectively during pick-and-roll situations.

The backcourt of Oladipo and rookie Elfrid Payton led the Magic.

Oladipo finished the game with 23 points, five assists and five rebounds, while Payton finished with another near triple-double with 17 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Jimmy Butler led the Bulls with 19 points, six assists and five rebounds. Former MVP Derrick Rose returned tonight and finished with nine points on nine shots and four turnovers in 19 minutes.

Games Notes:

• More Champagne! Evan Fournier returned tonight and he was huge for the Magic. Fournier scored 11 points off the bench and closed out the game for the Magic in his first game back from injury.
• Aaron Gordon finished out another fourth quarter tonight. Gordon seems to have earned the coaching staff’s trust and it paid of big tonight. Gordon hit a huge step back jumper in the late fourth to give Orlando a 103-101 lead.
• Andrew Nicholson got some extended playing time tonight due to match-up issues and Dewayne Dedmon foul trouble and he did some good things. Nicholson still cannot rebound well, but he scored some points and did a much better job than Tobias Harris on Taj Gibson defensively.
• Magic DNP’s tonight with Evan Fournier’s return were Willie Green (out with an injury), Ben Gordon, Maurice Harkless and Kyle O’Quinn. Channing Frye played four minutes because of foul trouble.
• The Magic ended the game with a lineup of Payton-Oladipo-Fournier-Gordon-Vucevic.

Next: Five things the Magic can accomplish in last week of season