Orlando Magic vs. Portland Trail Blazers (March 2, 2020): How to Watch, Odds and Prediction
The Orlando Magic return home to take on an undermanned Portland Trail Blazers team after a frustrating finish in Saturday’s loss.
Portland Trail Blazers (26-35) vs. Orlando Magic (27-33)
Time/TV:
7 p.m./FOX Sports Florida
WATCH MAGIC-BLAZERS ON FUBO TV
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2020 Season Series:
in Portland on Dec. 20; Tonight in Orlando
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | 101.3 | 111.3 | 113.6 | 52.5 | 26.3 | 12.8 | 23.7 |
| Orlando | 98.6 | 106.5 | 108.0 | 49.9 | 26.7 | 12.8 | 24.7 |
OMD Prediction
The Orlando Magic have been on Damian Lillard’s hit list for a long time. Last year, he dominated the second half in the Portland Trail Blazers’ win in Orlando, inspiring his latest colorway thanks to some not-so-friendly taunting in the front rows at the Amway Center. Lillard will not be in Orlando however as he nurses an injury. The Magic will be thankful for that as the Trail Blazers lose their most potent and dangerous weapon. Portland can still score. But they have been using a lot more Carmelo Anthony isolations and a lot more CJ McCollum at point guard. That has led to plenty of inefficiencies and this is still not a great defensive team. It still requires discipline. Orlando has to be better in individual defensive sets to stay attached to Hassan Whiteside on the block and prevent offensive rebounds and rolls to the rim. And the Magic have to keep the ball moving like they have the last four games.
104. 34. 110. 38. Prediction
1) The Orlando Magic identified the play of their starters in the first and third quarters as the biggest areas of improvement after Saturday’s game, Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel writes. These struggles are not an isolated incident.
2) Evan Fournier was the Orlando Magic’s closer in the win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, but his struggles late are apparent this year, Chet Stirston writes.
3) Despite the loss, the Orlando Magic are picking up some steam as the playoff race heats up, Omar Cabrera writes. They can feel momentum building, but they know it can dissipate just as quickly.
4) The door is very clearly open for the Orlando Magic to make a push to distance themselves from the Brooklyn Nets for seventh.
5) Blazer’s Edge writer TeamMom says CJ McCollum is doing all he can to lift the Portland Trail Blazers.
6) Despite falling short Saturday, Markelle Fultz hit another group of clutch shots to add to his growing lore late in games, Josh Cohen of OrlandoMagic.com writes.
7) Aaron Gordon followed his triple-double performance with just seven points to go with six rebounds and six assists. He expects a whole lot more from himself, he tells John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com.
8) That playmaking Aaron Gordon makes the Orlando Magic a very different team. The team is taking advantage of Gordon’s playmaking more and more, John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com writes.
9) Aaron Gordon is finding some offensive momentum by embracing the little things and the dirty game to steal points.
10) The Orlando Magic are having Jonathan Isaac observe and report on games with coaches in a similar way they kept Mohamed Bamba engaged last year, John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com writes.
11) Ryan Gaskin of Rip City Project looks at the fringe roster players the Portland Trail Blazers should keep around.
12) Life is beginning to slow down for Clyde Drexler after two decades of retirement from basketball but he still has a deep connection to Portland, Kerry Eggers of The Portland Tribune writes.
13) We look at who has next for the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.