8. Jan. 31 vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Grades . . . Orlando Magic’s offensive revival continues with 3-point barrage
When the Orlando Magic signed Marreese Speights, they knew exactly what they were getting. He was a solid locker room leader and someone who would set a good example with his work ethic. But he was also someone who understood his own limitations.
Marreese Speights was going to give you all he could defensively, but that was still not going to be much. He was just going to use his offensive energy to counteract that. And the Magic knew there would be a few games where he would win it for them.
The Magic’s debut of their space-themed City Edition jerseys was exactly that case. Speights went off on a night the Magic were making 3-pointers and looking like they did earlier in the season.
Speights made three of six 3-pointers to score 21 points. It was a game where his leadership qualities took over while Nikola Vucevic was out. He seemed determined to make sure the Magic would not lose this game. He was going to do everything he could.
The shorthanded Orlando team blitzed Los Angeles. It was one of the Lakers’ worst efforts of the year. And a game the Magic needed to win just for confidence.
Things never carried over for the Magic, but this was a fun night for Orlando at the Amway Center.