Game review: Magic (54-23) 107, Grizzlies (39-37) 92

In a game marred by a third quarter scuffle between Matt Barnes and Memphis's Hasheem Thabeet that saw Barnes get ejected and 5 technicals issued by the referees, the Magic had 5 players in double figures led by Vince Carter's 26 points and came back from a 5 point third quarter deficit to defeat the Grizzlies. The Magic had an outstanding 54.3% eFG% to more than offset the Grizzlies' 29-18 free throws made advantage.

The Magic scored the first 7 points of the game and maintained a lead between 6-10 points for most of the quarter and led 32-24 after one. The Grizzlies closed the Magic lead to 37-36 with 6:45 remaining in the second, but the Magic went on a 13-0 run to lead 50-36 and led 54-46 at the half. The Magic started out horrible offensively in the third quarter, as they scored just 4 points in the first 6:22 of the second half as Memphis took a 63-58 lead. The scuffle between Barnes and Thabeet took place at the 6:54 mark. Two quick threes by the Magic got the lead back, and the Magic took the lead for good 70-69 at the 1:21 mark and led 75-69 going into the final quarter. The Grizzlies got as close as 75-71 early in the fourth, but the Magic gradually pulled away and were never threatened in the final 10 minutes.

Magic leading scorers

Vince Carter: 26 points (9 of 18 FGs, 2 of 5 3 PT FGs, 6 of 7 FTs), 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals
Rashard Lewis: 18 points (6 of 8 FGs, 5 of 7 3 PT FGs), 2 steals, 2 blocks
Jameer Nelson: 18 points (8 of 13 FGs, 2 of 4 3 PT FGs), 5 assists
J.J. Redick (bench): 15 points (4 of 9 FGs, 3 of 6 3 PT FGs)
Brandon Bass (bench): 11 points (4 of 11 FGs), 2 blocks

Overall Game Statistics

FG%: ORL 46.3% (38 of 82) MEM 40% (30 of 75)
3 PT FG%: ORL 44.8% (13 of 29) MEM 33.3% (3 of 9)
FT%: MEM 76.3% (29 of 38) ORL 75% (18 of 24)
REB: MEM 46 (12 offensive) ORL 43 (12 offensive)
AST/TO: ORL 21/14 MEM 12/15
BENCH: ORL 37 MEM 19

Other game notes and stats:

-Zach Randolph led Memphis with 24 points along with 18 rebounds and 4 steals; three other Grizzlies scored in double figures as Rudy Gay scored 18 points and O.J. Mayo scored 17 points
-Gay and Mayo shot a combined 11 of 29 from the field
-Grizzlies' starting center Hasheem Thabeet was scoreless in nearly 20 minutes, but grabbed 5 rebounds and blocked 3 shots
-Magic C Dwight Howard was held to 8 points, but led the Magic with 11 rebounds and 5 blocks
-Barnes was scoreless in 17 minutes with 4 rebounds and 2 assists prior to his ejection
-Jason Williams had 5 assists off the bench for the Magic
-Carter and Nelson combined for 44 points on 17 of 31 shooting, including 4 of 9 on threes with 11 assists and 10 rebounds
-The Magic outscored the Grizzlies 89-63 from the field
-The Magic's "magic number" to clinching the SE and the second seed in the East is now one

Here is the complete recap and box score from nba.com.
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