Brandon Jennings, Ersan Ilyasova fit right in for first game

The Orlando Magic took a gamble in bringing in Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova at the trade deadline. Through one game, things seem to be working fine.

One of Brandon Jennings’ first touches and one of his final moments encapsulated exactly why the Orlando Magic looked to acquire him with the thought of employing him to make the Playoffs.

Jennings scored his first points in a Magic uniform doing something Magic players have had an inconsistent time of doing for several years now — even long before the Magic began this rebuild.

In desperation, Victor Oladipo fired the ball to Jennings from the corner to the top of the key with about five seconds left on the shot clock. Jennings took two probing dribbles forward and then quickly stepped back and launched a quick-trigger jumper. It hit the bottom of the net.

That was one reason for Jennings’ arrival. His playmaking ability.

What he did for Oladipo in the waning moments of the game when it seemed like his confidence should be taking a nosedive with missed shot after missed shot is the other reason for the trade that brought in Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova.

Mired in a shooting slump that saw him miss 10 consecutive shots after making his first three. He finally hit a big one in the fourth quarter and then added five straight points in overtime to give the Magic the lead and firm control.

After his driving scoop shot to put the Magic up by double digits and firm up the lead — Oladipo’s defense never wavered for most of the night — Jennings turned to Oladipo and gave him that reminder he had given him all game.

“Stay on attack,” Jennings said he told Oladipo. “He can handle the ball and I can too. If he has it, just go. The main thing is, I want him to be on attack the whole time because there are not too many guards in the league who can stop him.”

It was only one game. It is hardly the time to overreact or say whether the Magic’s gambit to swap Tobias Harris for Jennings and Ilyasova worked. But one game won the way the Magic had to win this game with Jennings on the floor in overtime inspires some confidence.

“He did a great job coming in from the injury he had,” Ilyasova said of Jennings’ performance. “I think this is one of the best games he has had so far. Hopefully he will build on it. He is one of those guys who is always trying to find the open guy and make everyoen better around him. He did a really good job on both side of the ball offensively and defensively.”

Jennings scored 18 points off the bench on 5-for-12 shooting and 4 for 9 from beyond the arc. He added four assists too in playing nearly 25 minutes, the second most minutes he played all season. It seemed like Scott Skiles would play Jennings to the end, but both Skiles and Jennings agreed Jennings was tired.

His decision to add another shooter to spread the floor worked in overtime. As it did with Jennings at the beginning of the fourth quarter when he made back-to-back 3-pointers to cut a nine-point deficit to three. That put the Magic squarely in the game.

Ilyasova scored 16 points off the bench on 5-for-11 shooting, freeing himself for jumpers throughout the game and attacking the glass well for five rebounds.

It was a productive and strong debut for both.

“I felt like both guys looked good,” Skiles said. “Ersan fouled out, but I thought Aaron and Ersan did a really good job on Dirk [Nowitzki] the whole game. You saw some things Ersan can do. He’s active. He can make a shot. He’s a good defender. Having Aaron and Ersan tag-teaming a guy like that is big for us.”

It is just one game and there will be more development and comfort to come for both these players. Jennings had not seen many crunch time minutes this year and said it felt good to be in with the game on the line.

Ilyasova got into the physical nature of the game perhaps a bit too much. But also was effective with his jumper.

The Magic acquired these players though not just for their on-court play. But also their leadership. While it is hard to attribute much directly to them, Jennings especially in crunch time had a hand to play late.

The Magic faced a deficit and a close game in regulation. They struggled to execute, but never crumbled. They stuck to their defense and held firm to stay in contact and give themselves a chance. Frustration had bubbled, but never boiled over. And when Evan Fournier tied the game at 98 to force overtime with 12 seconds left, there was euphoria and confidence again.

Orlando controlled the overtime, getting another bucket from Fournier before Oladipo’s salvo. Jennings was there through overtime and Ilyasova had his moments throughout the game before fouling out in the fourth quarter. But for one moment, the Magic had confidence again. And the will to finish.

“It felt real good. Oladipo was able to hit a big three,” Jennings said. “We were able to get some big shots down the stretch. We missed a lot of shots and they did too. It came down to who wanted it more.”

There is still a lot of work the Magic have to do. There was the small matter of losing a 21-point lead and falling behind by 14 points as the team struggled to crack Dallas’ zone defense.

Both Jennings and Ilyasova admitted moments of hesitation learning where guys would be and what they need to do. Despite their experience playing with Scott Skiles there are subtle differences.

Jennings said he tried to pick his spots and not do too much other than what the defense gave him. But undeniably there were moments where he took over and found his shot and created offense for the Magic. He said he was easing himself into it, but it was clear in some moments he too was feeling confident and able to take over.

For one night, it is hard to say that things did not work. And this new Magic team is off and running.

Next: Brandon Jennings, Ersan Ilyasova know the work ahead

“Honestly, I enjoyed playing tonight,” Ilyasova said. “Obviously we moved the ball offensively. I was just traded and it was my second practice yesterday. It was tough just to remember the plays. I played for Skiles many years ago, but I tried to remember. At the end of the day, it is just basketball. We tried to play hard and share the ball. And when we play this way, good things can happen to us.”