Orlando Magic Grades: Orlando Magic 117, Washington Wizards 108
The Washington Wizards were a mess until the fourth quarter. Then the Orlando Magic made plays to keep them at bay and score a win.
38. Final. 108. 142. 117
The Orlando Magic were reeling. John Wall had just sliced through the defense in transition with a behind-the-back move into a layup. It was now a one-point game after the Magic had led by 25 points earlier in the second half.
It was another lead lost and another game that felt unnecessarily tight. The Magic’s strong play for the better part of three quarters was quickly undone, reminding the team of its razor-thin margin for error.
There was still the chance to win. The Washington Wizards had almost fought their way back. Almost. The Magic never let them get all the way back in.
And their response to the Wizards getting within a point was exactly the response the Magic could have hoped for.
D.J. Augustin calmly drained a 3-pointer. The team got a stop with a block from Nikola Vucevic. And then D.J. Augustin threaded a pass to Terrence Ross in transition for an alley-oop layup.
The Magic dominated the final 2.5 minutes, waking up from an offensive malaise that has become all too common a theme. That was enough for the Magic to score a 117-108 win over the Wizards on Friday at Amway Center and get back on the right foot after Wednesday’s frustrating finish.
Orlando was much more focused and attentive to the gameplan for almost the entire game. The team’s energy was high and they took full advantage of every mistake Washington had. And the Wizards had plenty, committing 18 turnovers and forcing up several bad misses.
The Wizards looked every bit the dysfunctional team that has been advertised elsewhere. Orlando sliced through the defense with ease. Orlando was active, engaged and dominant.
The team’s bench heeded the call from their coach. It was the bench which built the Magic’s early lead after the Wizards started off on fire. Orlando did not look energetic or engaged through the first half of the first quarter. But the bench helped build and expand the lead.
It, of course, did not last. Orlando has struggled with consistency and struggled to go a full 48 minutes playing at a high level. The Magic’s fourth quarter was a struggle to create the same ball movement and intensity.
Combine that with the Wizards playing much sharper and focused and the game quickly got tight. The Magic needed to respond and they eventually did.
AARON GORDON. A-. <a href=. F. Orlando Magic
B+. <a href=. C. Orlando Magic. MOHAMED BAMBA
JERIAN GRANT. B. <a href=. PG. Orlando Magic
B. <a href=. C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC
C-. The Washington Wizards are a mess. That was extremely clear. The team never seemed completely on the same page and were sloppy almost the entire game. They lost a double-digit lead in the first quarter and comically fell apart. They had two inbounds mistakes that were mistakes a team would make in elementary school.<p>The Wizards were laughable for the better part of three quarters. The Magic took complete advantage and made the game a joke. Washington is certainly better than this. The team has the talent. And it does not seem the group can pull itself out.</p><p>It took John Wall seemingly going into hero mode to make it work. He finished with 19 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds. He was not super efficient. But he forced action and beat the Magic with his speed and point guard play throughout the quarter. The team started to rise up with him and that desperation almost worked. Almost. The Wizards are just not good.</p>. 2-9. 14th East. WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Next. Terrence Ross taking ownership of sixth man role. dark
The Orlando Magic next hit the road to take on the New York Knicks on Sunday.