Franz Wagner scores 34, leads Magic to second straight rout of Cavaliers to tie series at 2-2
Franz Wagner had 34 points and 13 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic held the Cleveland Cavaliers scoreless for a second-half stretch of almost seven minutes Saturday in a 112-89 victory that tied the Eastern Conference first-round series at 2-2.
Paolo Banchero scores 26 as Magic clinch playoff spot with 113-88 win over Bucks
Paolo Banchero had 26 points and 11 rebounds, Jonathan Isaac had 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in his second start of the season and the Orlando Magic avoided a play-in spot with a 113-88 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
DeโAaron Fox and Keon Ellis hit key free throws to help the Kings beat the Magic 109-107
DeโAaron Fox hit tying and go-ahead free throws with 21.2 seconds left and finished with 31 points, and Keon Ellis added another free throw in the final seconds as the Sacramento Kings beat the Orlando Magic 109-107.
Spurs dominate second half to beat short-handed Magic
SAN ANTONIO โ San Antonio played its first home game with fans and welcomed back four players who sat almost a month due to COVID-19 protocols. San Antonio held an opponent under 80 points for the first time since beating Golden State 89-75 on March 19, 2018. While that quartet returned fully, San Antonio was without veterans DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge. San Antonio is attempting to trade Aldridge after agreeing to part ways with the veteran forward after his role was lessened. โฆ San Antonio is 16-2 when leading by 10 points at any time in the game.
NBA says national anthem will be played after Mark Cuban bucks tradition
A United States flag is displayed as the national anthem is sung before an NBA basketball game between the Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks, Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)DALLAS โ Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban relented Wednesday and the national anthem will be played before home games this season after the NBA reiterated its โlongstanding league policyโ to include the song. โWith NBA teams now in the process of welcoming fans back into their arenas, all teams will play the national anthem in keeping with longstanding league policy,โ the league said. โWe have no problem playing the national anthem at all,โ Cuban said. Patrick said he intends to introduce a bill in the Texas Senate that will ensure the national anthem is played at all events that receive public funding.
LaVine scores 39 points to lift Bulls past Magic, 118-92
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Zach LaVine bounced back from a poor performance a night earlier and scored 39 points Saturday as the Chicago Bulls routed the injury-plagued Orlando Magic 118-92. He scored 22 points in the first half and chipped in seven rebounds and four assists as the Bulls snapped a two-game losing streak. Orlando's Nikola Vucevic, who scored a career-best 43 points in Fridayโs win, had 17 points and eight rebounds. The guard, who entered the night 10th in the NBA with 26.5 points per game, had another 12 points before exiting for good. Rookie Patrick Williams chipped in 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Coby White added 13 points.
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. โ 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 Sundayโs game against Toronto. Magic: Orlando hosts Chicago on Friday and Saturday in a two-game set.
Magic sign Isaac and Fultz to extensions
Orlando signed Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz to extensions, while San Antonio did the same with Derrick White, Toronto with OG Anunoby and the Los Angeles Clippers with Luke Kennard. Isaac ($80 million), White and Anunoby ($72 million) each received four-year extensions. โWe are thrilled to keep both Markelle and Jonathan in a Magic uniform,โ Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman said. 1 pick in the 2017 draft, averaged 12.1 points and 5.1 assists for the Magic last season. โWeโre really pleased that OG will be with us for seasons to come.โWhite averaged 11.3 points for the Spurs last season.
Warrens hot hand sends Pacers past Magic for 3rd straight
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. T.J. Warren scored 32 points, tying Jermaine O'Neal's franchise record for most in a three-game span, to send the Indiana Pacers past the Orlando Magic 120-109 on Tuesday for their third consecutive victory. Nikola Vucevic had 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic, whose season-best, five-game winning streak ended. Warren again proved to be the catalyst as the Pacers scored the first 10 points and needed less than five minutes to take a 17-3 lead. The Magic opened the third quarter with eight straight points and eventually cut the deficit to 78-66 after back-to-back baskets from Vucevic. Pacers: Indiana had a season-high scoring total in the first quarter and a season-best 71 points in the first half.
Magic build big lead, stay on roll in 132-116 win over Kings
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. The Orlando Magic got a big win and a big loss Sunday. Gordon scored seven of the first nine points for the Magic, who shot 63% in the first half while building a 24-point halftime lead. Orlando shot 52% for the game and matched a season high with 18 3 pointers while shooting 47% from long range. ... Vucevic scored 12 points in the third quarter, when the Magic surged to their biggest lead. Magic: Play Indiana on Tuesday.
Analysis: Early returns say so far, so good for NBA bubble
If that wasnt enough, the quality of play is so good that its almost like the NBA hadnt stopped playing for 4-1/2 months. In all honestly, its better than I was expecting ... talking about all the teams in general, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. So, you see some of the talents these guys have are coming out.The numbers inside the bubble are ridiculous. Try 36 points again, 18 rebounds and eight assists in the Bucks loss to Houston on Sunday night. The Rockets beat the Mavs 153-149 in overtime Friday and then tried 61 3-pointers to tie an NBA regulation-game record Sunday.
Magics Isaac now staring at another, longer knee rehab
Isaac left the NBAs bubble at Walt Disney World on Monday for more tests on his left knee, to determine if additional damage was done when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament on a jump-stop Sunday night. Magic President Jeff Weltman went to visit Isaac before he left, with plans to cheer him up. No need: By then, Weltman said, Isaac was trying to comfort him, not the other way around. He wore a large brace to protect the knee, plus had it wrapped and still couldnt avoid another injury. There were no structures in the knee that were damaged in the first injury that were impacted in this most recent injury whatsoever.
Magics Jonathan Isaac is lone player to stand for anthem
He wore his Magic jersey and not the Black Lives Matter T-shirt that other players have had on for the anthems so far in the NBAs season restart at Walt Disney World. Teammates supported the decision, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Isaac had yet to discuss his decision publicly. Isaac, an ordained minister, has a history of being active with various charities and churches. Isaac was the first player to stand for the anthem in the restarted season. The NBA has had a rule since the early 1980s saying players must stand for the anthem.
Magic beat Nets 128-118 in restart opener, move up to 7th
They extended their winning streak to four and moved back ahead of the Nets into seventh place in the Eastern Conference. The Magic outscored the Nets 75-43 in the middle two quarters, allowing them to overcome some shaky defense at the start and finish. So Brooklyn started two players who hadn't started an NBA game this season one who never had. Veteran Jamal Crawford, signed as a substitute player after not playing in the NBA this season, did not play. Nets: Play Washington on Sunday.
Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac talks protests, NBA return
ORLANDO, Fla. When the NBA season resumes next month at Disneys Wide World of Sports Complex, the Orlando Magic will be one of 22 teams fighting for a playoff spot. Isaac was ruled out for the remainder of the season, but with the NBA suspending action due to the coronavirus there's now a chance he'll be able to come back. "As of right now, I'm going to the bubble," Issac said. I'm going to continue to work every single day like I'm going for it, so hopefully, that crosses paths the right way and is able to happen." Isaac also discussed the ongoing protests over the death of George Floyd and how athletes have been using their platforms to move the conversation about racial inequality forward.
Vucevic scores 29 points in Orlando win against Washington
โ Nikola Vucevic scored 29 points, Evan Fournier added 19, and the Orlando Magic beat the Washington Wizards 123-89 on Wednesday night. Admiral Schofield scored 18 points to lead the Wizards, and Troy Brown, Jr. had 16 points and 11 rebounds. Orlando took control for good with a 23-5 run to close the second quarter, punctuated by a dunk by Vucevic in the final seconds, for a 69-52 lead. The advantage ballooned to 29 points in the early stages of the third quarter. Magic: F Jonathan Isaac will not need surgery for the knee sprain he suffered on Jan. 1 at Washington.
VanVleet scores 24 in Toronto win against Orlando
TORONTO โ The Orlando Magic hit Toronto on a three-game winning streak. Fred VanVleet scored 24 points, Pascal Siakam had 18 points and 11 rebounds and the defending champion Raptors beat the Magic 113-97 on Wednesday night. ... Orlando scored 32 points in the first quarter but just 36 in the second and third combined. NOT SO FASTFor the first time this season, Toronto was outscored on fast break points. Orlando scored 16 fast break points while the Raptors had five, the first time this season theyโve scored fewer than 11.
Fournier scores 26 in Magic win against Spurs
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Evan Fournier scored 26 points, including a couple of late 3-pointers, and the Orlando Magic beat San Antonio 111-109 on Friday night to hand the Spurs their fourth straight defeat. DeMar DeRozan scored 21 for the Spurs, who shot 50.6 percent from the field but gave up 64 points in the second half. A flagrant foul call helped the Magic maintain their lead in the final seconds. Gordon made the free throws and the Magic kept the ball, enabling Nikola Vucevic to add another foul shot for a four-point edge. The Spurs shot 53 percent in the first half and led 56-47 at halftime.