Orlando Magic Unable to Hold Off Hawks in Atlanta
Key StatsThe Hawks shot 41.9 percent from 3-point range, while the Magic knocked down just 23.5 percent of their attempts from long distance. Also, Atlanta scored 26 fast break points; Orlando had just eight. Nikola Vucevic led Orlando that night with 23 points, while Jonathon Simmons scored 19 points and Evan Fournier scored 13. Jaylen Brown scored 50 points in that contest for the C’s, while Terrence Ross led the Magic with 33 points. For more News about the Orlando Magic visit: www.orlandomagic.com For more sports coverage from NBA,NFL, to NCAA contact Julian Ojeda: julian@communitynewspapers.com
communitynewspapers.comOrlando Goes 4-1 in Preseason With Victory Over Cleveland
Paolo Banchero led with 17 points, Cole Anthony scored 14 and Caleb Houstan, who finished with 11 points, hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers late in the Orlando Magic’s 114-108 preseason victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. Houstan’s big triples came on back-to-back possessions with under two minutes left – the first of which breaking a 104-104 tie. Inactive Players/Injury ReportJalen Suggs (knee), Markelle Fultz (toe), Gary Harris (left knee rehabilitation), and Jonathan Isaac (left knee rehabilitation) were unavailable for the Magic. Moe Wagner exited with a sprained right ankle after playing seven minutes. For more News about the Orlando Magic visit: www.orlandomagic.com
communitynewspapers.comKnicks' Obi Toppin wins dunk contest as others struggle
Obi Toppin won the slam dunk contest, earning a 47 on his final dunk when he needed to do little more than put the ball in the basket after Juan Toscano-Anderson couldn't on his previous try. Toppin, the New York Knicks forward, beat Golden State's Toscano-Anderson in the final round to win the event after finishing second as a rookie. Houston rookie Jalen Green and Orlando guard Cole Anthony failed to advance.
news.yahoo.comStats Notebook: Analyzing Orlando’s Sneaky-Interesting Starting Five
But this team is a quiet 4-3 over the past two weeks, and its young core has inspired faith — particularly surrounding the starting lineup. The quintet is the centerpiece of Orlando’s currently healthy roster and the barometer for its future potential. Among 59 lineups with at least 200 possessions played, Orlando’s starters have the fourth-best DRTG, giving up 95.4 points per 100 possessions. Orlando’s starting lineup ranks 53rd out of those aforementioned 59 groupings, averaging just 86.1 points per 100 half-court possessions. After setting a record for the # of players in a season, the NBA hasn’t seen any new players debut over the last 20 days.
thewestsidegazette.comCurry, Wiggins lead Warriors to 126-95 victory over Magic
Stephen Curry keeps letting it fly from any spot on the floor, and he's suddenly within striking distance of overtaking Ray Allen as the NBA's all-time leader in made 3-pointers. Curry had seven more 3s on the way to 31 points and eight assists, Andrew Wiggins hit a career-high eight 3s and finished with 28 points, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Orlando Magic 126-95 on Monday night. Curry swished a half-court shot to beat the first-quarter buzzer and wound up shooting 8 of 16.
news.yahoo.comBooker, Suns roll to 6th straight win, beating Magic 109-90
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)PHOENIX – Devin Booker scored 27 points, Mikal Bridges added 21 and the Phoenix Suns cruised to their sixth straight victory, beating the Orlando Magic 109-90 on Sunday night. Booker scored 17 points in the first quarter on 8-of-10 shooting, including a 30-foot 3-pointer, and the Suns took a 28-16 lead. Phoenix scored the first six points of the second half and pushed ahead 80-55 after Jae Crowder hit back-to-back 3-pointers. Chris Paul added 12 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Suns: Booker is averaged 28.3 points and shooting 54.7% during the seven-game homestand that ends Tuesday.
Curry goes off again with 10 3s as Warriors hold off Magic
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, dribbles against Orlando Magic forward Gary Clark during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. Curry knocked down 10 3-pointers on the way to 40 points and also contributed eight rebounds and five assists, leading the Golden State Warriors past the undermanned Magic 111-105 on Thursday night. “I just told him he looks great, he looks quick, he looks healthy, he looks like he’s loving it,” Clifford said. Golden State attempted a franchise-record 30 3-pointers in the first half and went 20 of 50 from long range overall. Nikola Vucevic had 25 points, 13 rebounds and five assists as the Magic lost a third straight game, seventh in eight and ninth of 11.
VanVleet sets Raptors mark with 54 in 123-108 win at Orlando
Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet, left, drives around Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)ORLANDO, Fla. – Fred VanVleet set a franchise record with 54 points and hit a career-best 11 3-pointers as the Toronto Raptors beat the short-handed Orlando Magic 123-108 on Tuesday night. AdNorman Powell had 23 points for Toronto, and Kyle Lowry posted a triple-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Orlando, which has lost 12 of 14, tried almost every guard on its roster against the 6-foot-1 VanVleet with little to no success. AdMagic: Orlando was without Gordon, who severely sprained his left ankle later in Sunday’s game against Toronto. Magic: Orlando hosts Chicago on Friday and Saturday in a two-game set.
Practice time will be in short supply in NBA this season
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra watches during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Friday, Dec. 25, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Joel Auerbach)The Miami Heat just wrapped up two consecutive days of practice, which is significant for this reason: It might not happen again for a while. Practice time is something that will be in short supply around the NBA this season; teams are basically playing every other day, and that — along with travel and mandated days off — realistically leaves time for no more than two practices per week. “I think you need to adjust and at least we’re all on an even playing field, so it’s all relative,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Every team in the NBA will have similar practice quandaries, which comes with the territory of having plenty of four-game weeks.
'Explosive' Durant scores 15 in 1st preseason game with Nets
Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) passes during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in New York. Durant played just under 24 minutes as Brooklyn beat the Washington Wizards 119-114 on Sunday night in its preseason opener. Durant scored 11 points on 3-for-3 shooting during that stretch while Irving scored 12 points on 5-for-6 shooting to help the Nets take a 30-18 lead. Late in the first half, Irving threw a long pass to Durant, whose reverse layup gave the Nets a 58-35 lead. Danilo Gallinari added 17 points and De’Andre Hunter added 15 for Atlanta, which made 17 3-pointers.
Wolves select Edwards with No. 1 pick in delayed NBA draft
The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Edwards with the first pick in the NBA draft Wednesday, Nov. 18. Tears flowed freely for those and many more players Wednesday night when their long-awaited, months-delayed NBA dreams were finally realized. 1 pick in an NBA draft delayed multiple times because of the coronavirus pandemic. 12 pick Tyrese Haliburton of Sacramento, whose blue, floral suit had the words “Black Lives Matter” on the inside. Duke didn't have a player picked in the first round after having 39 since the league went to a two-round draft in 1989.
Shorthanded Hurricanes overwhelmed by North Carolina
For the second time this week, the Hurricanes played a road game in North Carolina, this time against the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. Since then, the Tar Heels have only won three of their last 12 games. With 10:18 left in the first half, Miami had only managed to score four points, all coming from senior center Rodney Miller. Miami attempted 14 3-pointers, but only managed to score one, while the Tar Heels boasted a three-point percentage of 42.9 percent. However, considering UNC had dropped its last two games after leading by double digits going into the second half, Miami remained hopeful.
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