The Orlando Magic surprised everyone with a spirited effort and some surprise performances to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves, ending a seven-game slide.
D.J. Augustin was dribbling and probing the defense, trying hurriedly to find an outlet. The Minnesota Timberwolves were closing in around them. They were the ones desperate to come back as the Orlando Magic tried to hold onto their new lead.
D.J. Augustin somehow squirted out the other side, drawing defenders to him. He dumped it off to Khem Birch who dunked it with two hands just before the shot clock expired.
Augustin’s pass gave the Magic a four-point lead. A lead that was hard fought, finally going the Magic’s way on a flying two-handed jam from Mario Hezonja.
The ball moved again and again and found the open man. Even when it was Bismack Biyombo. And he, or whoever the Magic needed, delivered in a 108-102 win over the streaking Timberwolves at Amway Center.
The Magic had one of their best games of the season. After losing 16 of their last 18 games, 27 of their last 31 and riding a seven-game losing streak, Orlando had a huge game against one of the hottest teams in the league.
The game was fairly neck and neck for the early part of the game until midway through the second quarter when Arron Afflalo and Nemanja Bjelica got into a skirmish and were ejected from the game. That play seemed to spark the Magic. Despite Minnesota holding control over the game, Orlando never went away.
The Magic got 15 third-quarter points from Evan Fournier on his way to a career-high 32 points to help pace the team through the third quarter until they could finally take over. The Magic seemed to find energy from everywhere — whether it was Bismack Biyombo early, Khem Birch in the middle or Evan Fournier and D.J. Augustin to finish.
This created a spark that has been much needed in this Orlando Magic team for a while and pushed the team to play with a drive tonight leading to some career performances by a number of Magic players.
Next: Orlando Magic hope for purpose to finish lost season
The Orlando Magic next head back on the road Thursday to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers.