Orlando Magic Blog

Group Blog talking about the NBA 2009 Eastern Conference Champions. Due to the amazing success of the 2009 playoff run comments are now frequently deleted to kill offensive comments, incoherence, or asininity. Comments can no longer be anonymous and require either a Blogger or OpenID account.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Magic finish 3-0 on road trip after win at Charlotte

Despite one of the worst offensive games of Dwight Howard's career, the Magic were able to overcome a 43-38 halftime deficit to the Bobcats for a 90-85 victory. The other four Magic starters all scored between 15 and 20 points to make up for Howard's four points, all on free throws.

Magic leading scorers

Hedo Turkoglu: 20 points (6 of 15 field goals), 4 assists
Mickael Pietrus: 18 points (7 of 13 field goals), 4 rebounds
Rashard Lewis: 17 points (6 of 16 field goals), 6 rebounds
Jameer Nelson: 15 points (7 of 10 field goals), 5 rebounds
Tony Battie (bench): 9 points (4 of 5 field goals), 7 rebounds, 2 blocks

Charlotte leading scorers:

Gerald Wallace: 19 points
Raymond Felton and Adam Morrison: 14 points each

Game stats:

FG%: ORL 43.8% (32 of 73) CHA 43.2% (32 of 74)
3 PT FG%: ORL 26.9% (7 of 26) CHA 25% (3 of 12)
FT%: ORL 79.2% (19 of 24) CHA 66.7% (18 of 27)
REB: CHA 41 (11 offensive) ORL 38 (8 offensive)
AST/TO: ORL 14/14 CHA 13/14
BENCH: CHA 34 ORL 16

Other game stats and notes:

-The Magic starters outscored the Bobcats' starters 74-51
-The Magic starting frontline shot a combined 12 of 34 from the field
-The Magic starting guards shot a combined 14 of 23 from the field for 33 points
-The Charlotte starting guards shot a combined 7 of 21 from the field for 20 points
-Mickael Pietrus scored his 18 points in just under 21 minutes
-Howard fouled out in just 26 minutes
-Tony Battie played 28 minutes and scored five more points than Howard and grabbed just as many rebounds (seven)
-Howard did contribute five blocked shots and two steals defensively
-Bobcats' center Emeka Okafor struggled somewhat also, with 8 points and 9 rebounds
-J.J. Redick saw three minutes of action and did not attempt a shot

Magic are back at home Tuesday night in a rematch of last season's first round playoff against Toronto.

For the complete box score, click here

posted by Mike from Illinois @ 1:50 AM  

5 Comments:

  • At 2:09 AM, Blogger Mike from Illinois said…

    The Magic weren't exactly sparkling in most statistical areas against the Bobcats, but the Bobcats were even worse. The 79% free throw shooting by the Magic was their best stat.

    The Magic continue to struggle from the field and three point range, and were outrebounded for the second straight game.

    Nice game by the two guards, Nelson and Pietrus. Only one turnover by Nelson and 70% FG shooting is very encouraging.

    Excellent job by Battie coming off the bench with Howard struggling. Did anyone ever think that Battie would outscore Howard in a game?

    You can thank me for the Magic being in first place now; since I wrote my post last week about how I think Atlanta will win the SE, the Hawks have lost three in a row and the Magic have won three in a row!

    The competition gets stiffer for the Magic, as they take on Toronto Tuesday night.

     

  • At 3:56 PM, Blogger OVERWADED said…

    I watched the Hawks last 2 wins against the Bobcats and Bulls where they barely hung on to win. That's why I wasn't really worried about the Hawks.

    The game in Boston was a hell of a game to watch, but it was what I expected, especially considering the cocky Celtics were out trying to prove a point. I'm honestly tired of the "chest bumping" Celtics. I will be cheering for everybody except them come playoff time.

    Back to the Hawks... The 2 losses in a row against the Nets isn't really acceptable.

    As it relates to the Magic... Well, Orlando has won 7 of their past 8 games, 3 in a row, with the last 3 being road wins. But even more impressive is how this team hasn't been playing "well". We've been winning ugly games. We all know we have a team built to shoot the 3-ball. Would any of us think the Magic would be 7-3 with 3 starters shooting under .30% behind the arc? These are the type of wins that build character, and make a team better. Imagine what will happen when this team actually starts shooting the ball well and clicking on all cylinders. It should be a good season, an improved season, just like most of us expected.

    Orlando is still the team to beat in the Southeast Division, and should be considered right up there with the Cavs and Pistons in the Eastern Conference.

     

  • At 8:02 PM, Blogger Mike from Illinois said…

    I think the Hawks will start playing at a high level once again when they get power forward Josh Smith back from his sprained ankle; he was averaging 12 points and 8 rebounds when he got hurt 4 games ago.

    As OVERWADED mentioned, it's encouraging that the Magic have won 7 of their last 8 games even though they haven't been playing that well, with several ugly wins.

    Hopefully, the Magic will start clicking on all cylinders soon and we will see just how impressive the Magic can look.

     

  • At 2:22 AM, Blogger OVERWADED said…

    "I think the Hawks will start playing at a high level once again when they get power forward Josh Smith back from his sprained ankle; he was averaging 12 points and 8 rebounds when he got hurt 4 games ago."

    Mike, we're usually on the same page, but I'm struggling with your "love" for the Hawks.

    You said you think "they're going to start playing at a high level"... By saying that, you're implying that they once did?

    While I agree that the return of Josh Smith will help them. I also think they have a solid young nucleolus. But I’m not comfortable saying they have played at a "high level".

    The obvious argument is that they took Boston to 7, but that was one series, and Boston struggled on the road throughout the entire playoffs. You just got to remember they have same team (minus Childress) that went 37-45 last season. Taking Boston to 7 was promising for the future, and that seemed to carry over to their 6-0 start, but I’m not going to get carried away yet.

    All I'm saying it, give them some time...mid season...hell, 20 games. I think they're a playoff team, but until they finish a season over .500, or advance in the playoffs, I just can't say they've played at a high level.

    You got to remember to, every season there is a team or two that jumps out hot, by catching some teams off guard, only to fall back.

    With all of that said, I could see them winning 41-45 games. I'm just not ready to say they're anything more than a solid young team that will seed 5-8 only to be knocked out in the 1st round once again.

     

  • At 7:38 PM, Blogger Mike from Illinois said…

    I should have clarified what I meant when I said about the Hawks playing at a "high" level... I meant the level they were playing at when they were 6-0 and had defeated New Orleans and Toronto, and were only one of two undefeated teams in the league.

    Like you said, it takes a lot of games for a team to say that they are playing at a "high" level, not just six games.

    If the Magic can play at that consistent "high" level throughout the season, they will finish ahead of the Hawks.

    I'm looking forward to the back-to-back games the Hawks and Magic play in January. Hopefully by then, the Magic will show that they are indeed the better team.

     

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