Game review: Magic (29-15) 106, Bobcats (21-21) 95 OT
The Magic, thanks to a nice defensive effort and good games from Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter, led by as many as 16 points in the third quarter over Charlotte before the Bobcats started clicking offensively in the fourth quarter and the Magic got cold, allowing the Bobcats to tie the game in the final seconds of regulation. However, the Bobcats expended so much energy in the fourth to get back in the game they had nothing left for the overtime, which was the Magic's first overtime game of the season. The Magic dominated, outscoring the Bobcats 14-3 in the OT to break the Bobcats' 9 game home winning streak.
The Magic led through most of the first quarter and had a 24-21 lead going into the second. The Magic extended their lead by as much as 37-28 in the second before settling for a 49-45 halftime lead. The Bobcats scored the first 2 points of the second half before the Magic went on a 20-6 run for their largest lead of the game at 69-53 and led 69-59 going into the fourth. The Magic led by 75-64 with under 9 minutes remaining when the Bobcats made their comeback and tied the game at 87 with 57 seconds remaining. A Nelson jumper and two Rashard Lewis free throws gave the Magic a 91-87 lead with 20 seconds remaining; however, a three pointer by Raymond Felton of the Bobcats, followed by Carter splitting two free throws, and a layup by Stephen Jackson with 1.2 seconds left sent the game into overtime, the Magic's first of the season. The Magic shot 5 of 7 in the OT, while the Bobcats were just 1 of 8 in a dominant performance by the Magic in the overtime.
Magic leading scorers
Jameer Nelson: 21 points (8 of 12 FGs, 3 of 3 3 PT FGs), 7 assists
Vince Carter: 21 points (8 of 16 FGs, 2 of 6 3 PT FGs), 5 rebounds
Rashard Lewis: 18 points (6 of 17 FGs, 4 of 13 3 PT FGs), 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals
Matt Barnes: 13 points (4 of 11 FGs), 6 rebounds
Dwight Howard: 10 points (4 of 11 FGs), 20 rebounds, 7 blocks, 6 turnovers
Overall Game Statistics
FG%: ORL 43.7% (38 of 87) CHA 39.8% (35 of 88)
3 PT FG%: ORL 35.9% (14 of 39) CHA 33.3% (9 of 27)
FT%: ORL 72.7% (16 of 22) CHA 72.7% (16 of 22)
REB: ORL 49 (8 offensive) CHA 46 (12 offensive)
AST/TO: ORL 22/12 CHA 17/13
BENCH: CHA 38 ORL 23
Other game notes and stats
-Four Bobcats scored in double figures, led by D.J. Augustin off the bench with 22 points, including 5 of 9 3 PT FGs
-The Bobcats' top season scorers, Stephen Jackson (15 points) and Gerald Wallace (9 points), were held to a combined 24 points on 8 of 29 shooting, including 1 of 7 3 PT FGs
-Wallace and Boris Diaw each grabbed 10 rebounds despite not scoring in double figures
-The Magic starting five outscored the Bobcats' starting five 83-57
-Other than center Nazr Mohammed, the other four starters for the Bobcats combined to shoot just 16 of 53 (30%)
-J.J. Redick led the Magic bench with 9 points on 3 of 5 FGs
-The Magic's Mickael Pietrus had 5 rebounds and 3 blocks off the bench in 18 minutes
-Nelson and Carter combined for 42 points on 16 of 28 FGs, including 5 of 9 3 PT FGs
-The Magic are now tied with Atlanta for first place in the SE
Here is the complete recap and box score from nba.com
posted by Mike from Illinois @ 3:09 AM
2 Comments:
At 5:30 AM,
Mike from Illinois said…
What a dominant performance in OT by the Magic, and a great defensive performance in holding down Jackson and Wallace to sub-par games.
Even though the Magic had the 16 point third quarter lead, the Bobcats were due to make a run, which they did. They finally started clicking in the final quarter to make their run, and made several clutch shots, while the Magic could not answer offensively.
The Magic sure made up for their 4th quarter failings in the OT.
This was probably Jameer Nelson's best game of the season, as he was shooting the ball confidently and doing a good job setting up his teammates.
After missing a few shots early, did Vince Carter ever pick up his game, hitting a variety of jumpers and drives; he also did well defensively.
D12 didn't do as well offensively as he did the last few games, but what a Herculean effort defensively.
Rashard Lewis and Matt Barnes played their parts well also.
A real encouraging 3 game winning streak for the Magic.
At 9:55 AM,
Big Figure said…
Yea mike the team is really starting to play well. This team is so much better defensively when we can score,hopefully the guys will keep moving the ball because shots seem to come pretty easy when we're being unselfish. Let me also give props to jameer for raising his level of play and leading,his assist totals in the last 4 games are much better as well as his jumper and quickness seem to be coming back. Kudos to VC for not letting his slump get to his head,he's been very professional in his approach and its starting to tell that he's finding his place. His shots have been down but much more efficient,VC is finding out that we are at our best when we play through dwight for the first three and 1/2 quarters. Down the stretch we have to put the ball in a good free-throw shooters hands,hedo wouldnt take shots until the fourth quarter because he knew that. Playing with these guys for years he understood his role and i think SVG and VC both are figuring out how to go about things. SVG using JJ and VC together to finish the game was something new. VC being himself down the stretch was also fun to watch.
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