Orlando Magic Grades: Orlando Magic 124, Washington Wizards 116

The Orlando Magic got a big offensive burst for their highest point total of the season. it was enough to hold off John Wall and the Washington Wizards.

VS.

	1	2	3	4	T
Magic	25	40	31	28	124
Wizards	24	28	29	35	116

The Orlando Magic faced the barrage from John Wall. Over and over again, he attacked the paint and challenged the Magic’s shot blockers. They got their licks in, but Wall’s volume was too much.

So too was the Magic’s offense. Yes, the offense.

Orlando took every bit of John Wall’s career-high 52 points and stood taller time and time again in a 124-116 win over the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center on Tuesday. The team built a 20-point lead and held on to push it out of reach of Wall’s scoring onslaught. The Magic may have finally let completely go of the rope defensively on Wall in the fourth quarter, but they were able to muster plenty of offense themselves.

Elfrid Payton played at peak Elfrid Payton. He darted through the lane for baskets, made jumpers and dished it well. He played pressure defense to pick up steals.

The Magic as a team blocked 13 shots with Serge Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo patrolling the paint all night. They made 51.8 percent of their shots and 12 for 26 from beyond the arc. The Magic won their first game with their offense carrying the load.

Orlando took control in the second quarter with Elfrid Payton, Jeff Green and Jodie Meeks dominating the second quarter. It continued with the Magic building momentum early in the third quarter to take as much as a 20-point lead.

The Magic still have some bumps to smooth over. The Magic’s defense let go, getting too block happy and struggling to keep Wall from going down hill. Orlando will have to get its defense back under control. This game was the aberration.

What does not seem to be an aberration is the feeling of winning. The Magic went 4-1 on the road trip and seemed to enjoy the victory more than any other.

As Ibaka and Biyombo blocked shots, everyone on the Magic bench was up and celebrating, giving Ibaka’s yet-to-be-named thumbs down celebration. The team has begun to come together, succeed and bond.

The Magic can bring that home as much as anything.

A-. Elfrid Payton checked into the game late in the first quarter and somewhat nonchalantly hit a 3-pointer. He hit another and had eight points by the end of the quarter. His impact on this game was just beginning.He scored 22 of his career-high 25 points in the first half. He added nine assists, three steals and three blocks too. Payton was all over the place and making things happen for himself and others. He was aggressive and proving with his attack.This was Payton at his absolute best offensively.His only knock was his defense in the second half on John Wall. Wall did score 52 points, after all. And Payton struggled to keep him under wraps. But he pestered him into a few steals and made his life somewhat more difficult.. PG. Orlando Magic. ELFRID PAYTON

B. Serge Ibaka was a major catalyst on the offensive end early. He made a series of shots to help the Magic get out to a 7-0 lead pretty quickly. He was getting to his spots and making tough jumpers. But that can often be a prelude for a difficult game.Ibaka made just 5 of his 15 shots on his way to 10 points and five rebounds. He struggled to make shots and was forcing his offense throughout the game. It was a difficult game for him offensively after several strong games.He made a huge difference defensively, though. Ibaka was very active blocking shots around the basket. He and Bismack Biyombo were huge deterrents as the Magic build their lead. The Wizards simply would not attack the basket with them around. It took Wall finally taking them head on for the Wizards to get any traction.. PF. Orlando Magic. SERGE IBAKA

If you are looking for what a Jeff Green game is supposed to look like for the Orlando Magic, Tuesday’s game might very well be it.Green scored 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting and 7-for-8 shooting from the foul line. Green did not appear to force very much either. He was getting much of his offense in the flow of the game and taking isolations when they made sense for him. He did what the Magic asked of him, essentially.And getting to the foul line is still a struggle for the Magic. So Green forcing his way there over and over was key for the Magic’s offensive success. Green blended in well and took advantage when the opportunities arose. That is all the Magic really want from him. And he delivered tonight.. F. Orlando Magic. JEFF GREEN. A

Orlando Magic. BISMACK BIYOMBO. A. Bismack Biyombo did something that probably has not been done since <a rel=. C

7-13. 12th East. WASHINGTON WIZARDS. C+. John Wall was the lone saving grace for the Washington Wizards. He was quite literally their only offense and the only reason they got the game to single digits in the second half. Wall had a career-high 52 points and just sent an offensive barrage on the basket in the second half.The rest of his team just could not muster much else. Orlando shut the rest of them out. And even with the Magic’s defense slipping, Wall could not get everyone else involved. He was just going to to do it himself.Washington’s bench was terrible and allowed the Magic to get things going and gain full separation. No one else could really pick things up for the Wizards throughout the game. It was just Wall and an occasional dash of <a rel=