Orlando Magic Grades: Charlote Hornets 120, Orlando Magic 88
The Orlando Magic could not get themselves going offensively and paid the price as Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Hornets walked to another rout.
120. 170. 88. 38. Final
Kemba Walker has been a familiar thorn in the Orlando Magic’s side for the last five years. And he was not about to let the Charlotte Hornets’ 11-game win streak over their division rival Orlando Magic end. Not with his former coach on the opposing sideline.
Walker did what he has done for so many y years now. He called Cody Zeller over to him and watched as Nikola Vucevic sank back (just as the Magic’s scheme called for). He waited as D.J. Augustin was late coming over the screen and attacked, stopping on a dime when he felt comfortable and ready to shoot. With all the space in front of him he simply took the easy shot.
Again and again and again.
That has been the familiar refrain and it continued to happen in the Hornets’ 120-88 win over the Magic at Amway Center on Friday. Orlando was unable to solve the Charlotte puzzle.
The Magic scored just 31 points in the first half and shot a horrid 38.3 percent for the game. They made only 6 of their 31 3-point attempts and failed to get to the foul line, an important point of their attack in the season-opening win Wednesday.
In other words, this did not look like the scrappy, determined team that had everyone buzzing a few days ago. It looked like the lifeless, frustrated team that has sat near the bottom of the standings for the last six years.
Orlando is still seeking its identity and trying to buy into the system of a new coach and execute it effectively. Especially when the team is not playing its best. And instead of keeping up the fight, the Magic fell deeper into the pit.
Orlando was game defensively for the most part. The Hornets shot just 46.7 percent for the game and were worse than 40 percent in the first half. But Charlotte caught fire behind Walker’s second-quarter barrage and the spacing and chaos it created. The Hornets hit on 17 of 38 3-pointers, using that to create some separation and blow the game wide open. Walker made five of his own on his way to 26 points — and a mind-boggling +34.
By the time Cody Zeller jammed over Aaron Gordon and Mohamed Bamba in the third quarter, the game seemed already lost. Orlando simply did not have the firepower or the discipline to keep pace.
Another one in the Hornets’ ledger.
B-. There was a palpable buzz every time <a href=. C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC
EVAN FOURNIER. C. <a href=. G/F. Orlando Magic
D.J. AUGUSTIN. F. The Orlando Magic knew they had a deficiency at point guard. That is not the surprise. And in a game like this where everyone is struggling to shoot and the defense’s switching is just bogging things down without someone who can go off the dribble and get into the paint. <a href=. PG. Orlando Magic
B. <a href=. F. Orlando Magic. AARON GORDON
A. The Charlotte Hornets were patient and methodical in their approach. They had plenty of their own offensive struggles, but they did not let the Orlando Magic’s good defense or their own poor shooting keep them from deviating from their plan. They were going to keep attacking and putting pressure on the Magic until they broke.<p>Eventually, they would. That is because the Hornets have Kemba Walker leading their charge. And he is just a difficult guy to stop when he gets going. And when he gets going, the Hornets move the ball extremely effectively.</p><p>Walker finished with 26 points, making five of his 10 3-pointers. Charlotte finished with 17 3-pointers and 32 assists on 43 field goals. That is an efficient night for the Hornets, even if their shooting numbers were not stellar. Their patience to attack was the most important part to their game. Charlotte knew and had faith in its system and that earned the team a win.</p>. 1-1. 6th East. CHARLOTTE HORNETS
dark. Next. Steve Clifford brings something different to the Magic
The Orlando Magic are immediately back in action Saturday as they take on the Philadelphia 76ers.