Bobcats-Magic Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Apr 25 2012 10:21AM

The loss of Dwight Howard for the rest of the season has eliminated a major distraction from the Orlando Magic's locker room, but it's also left a major hole in the lineup.

With the woeful Charlotte Bobcats coming to town, the absence of the star center might not make much of a difference.

The Magic will try to snap a three-game skid and lock up the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday night when they face the slumping Bobcats, who are in danger of posting the worst winning percentage in NBA history.

Howard going down for the season after back surgery last week has allowed Orlando (36-28) to focus on its play rather than the center's trade demands and his tumultuous relationship with coach Stan Van Gundy.

The Magic, though, haven't been nearly as good defensively in the last eight games without Howard - the three-time defending defensive player of the year. Opponents have scored 99.4 points per game, 6.0 above Orlando's season average, and shot 49.2 percent - above the club's season mark of 44.8.

"We didn't do our defensive assignments," swingman Jason Richardson said after a 101-74 loss at Denver on Sunday.

The Magic can't catch fifth-seeded Atlanta after losing all three games to the Hawks this season, but they're in position to clinch the sixth spot with a two-game edge over New York and Philadelphia with two games left for each team. Orlando won the season series against the 76ers, while the Knicks could still win a tiebreaker with the Magic.

Sixth in the West is not where the Magic envisioned finishing when the season started, but a first-round playoff matchup with No. 3 seed Indiana is probably far more appealing than dropping to seventh and earning a likely meeting with Miami.

Given that, Orlando can't afford to look past a Bobcats team that's dropped a franchise-record 21 in a row.

Charlotte (7-57) needs to defeat the Magic or the Knicks on Thursday to avoid going into the record books as the owner of the league's worst-ever winning percentage. The 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers hold the mark at .110, going 9-73 in that full season, but a 7-59 finish would leave the Bobcats at .106.

"We don't want to be the worst team in NBA history. We know that in the back of our minds going into these next two games," point guard D.J. Augustin said after scoring 15 points in a 101-73 loss at Washington on Monday.

The Bobcats have lost 10 straight on the road and haven't won anywhere since beating Toronto at home March 17. One of Charlotte's rare wins, though, came against Orlando on March 6, a 100-84 home victory that ended a six-game skid in the series.

It was Charlotte's ninth win in 31 games against the Magic.

The Bobcats fell to 2-13 all-time in Orlando with a 96-89 loss Jan. 17 in their lone visit this season.

Redick, Magic shoot way past Bobcats 102-95

By KYLE HIGHTOWER
Posted Apr 25 2012 11:08PM

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) With a roster that has seemingly gotten thinner by the game over the past month, no wins have come easy for the Orlando Magic down the stretch.

It's why the Magic expected to get a strong effort from a woeful Charlotte Bobcats team that came in battling against all-time NBA futility.

The Bobcats hung tough, but the Magic made just shots from beyond the arc to hold on for a 102-95 victory Wednesday night, Charlotte's 22nd consecutive loss.

J.J. Redick had six 3-pointers and scored a career-high 31 points as the Magic snapped a three-game losing streak and more importantly secured the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Ryan Anderson added 24 points and 13 rebounds and Jason Richardson had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Magic, who lost forward Glen Davis to a sprained right ankle. He is the latest injury to strike the Magic's roster and drain an already shallow pool of Orlando big men following Dwight Howard's season-ending back surgery last week. Davis limped off the court, though initial X-rays taken on the ankle in the locker room were negative. His status is day-to-day.

"Obviously, it was good for us," Redick said. "There was definitely some worry (about Davis). You immediately think to yourself `How are we going to go forward if he's out for an extended period of time?' But it sounds like he'll be back this weekend. Hopefully he'll have a great recovery."

Richardson said while it was nice to lock up a first-round matchup with Indiana, it wasn't at all their focus going into the game.

"We just wanted to play and wanted to win a game," Richardson said. "We haven't won in a while, had some tough games and a tough road trip. I don't think anybody was thinking about what was going on with the playoffs. We just wanted to win."

D.J. Augustin led the Bobcats with 23 points, while Gerald Henderson had 17 and Derrick Brown 16.

Charlotte (7-58) heads into its season finale on Thursday needing to beat New York to avoid the worst winning percentage in NBA history. The longest losing streak in NBA history was the 26 games by Cleveland last season. Should the Bobcats lose their finale against the Knicks, their 7-59 record and .106 winning percentage would eclipse the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers and their mark at .110, when they went 9-73.

"Nobody in here is used to losing like we have lost this year," Henderson said. "It just kind of humbles you and teaches you a lot about what it takes to be successful in this game. It also teaches you what it takes to have a good team in the NBA. It's a learning process and hopefully we will come out with a win tomorrow."

Bobcats coach Paul Silas said he was proud of his team's effort.

"I was really happy with the way we played," he said. "We just came up a little short, but we gave it our all."

The Magic were active early offensively and beginning to cruise late in the first quarter when Davis stepped on Byron Mullens' foot and rolled his ankle.

The injury couldn't have come at a more inopportune time for Orlando, which has seen starters Hedo Turkoglu (facial fracture) and Howard both undergo surgery in the past month.

Howard, of course, is gone for the rest of the season as he continues rehabilitation in California. Turkoglu may return as early as Thursday's regular-season finale against Memphis and be ready for the postseason, but that is still to be determined.

The Bobcats used the moment as a spark and rallied after Davis' injury to cut what was a 17-point first-half deficit to 67-66 late in the third quarter.

Orlando got it back up to 10 points entering the fourth quarter before seeing one final push by Charlotte.

It was 89-84 when Henderson was whistled for his fifth personal foul and forced to the bench with just over 6 minutes to play. That was immediately followed by Richardson's third 3-pointer of the game to give the Magic a little more breathing room.

A 3 a few possessions later by Redick made it 95-86 and following a Charlotte miss Redick nailed his final 3 of the game to push the lead back to 12 points with 4:26 to go.

The Magic kept around a 15-point lead throughout the first half before seeing the Bobcats close the gap to 10 at the break.

Orlando pulled away early by connecting on 10 of its 22 3-point attempts in the half, led by Redick's five 3s and 16 points. Anderson added 14 points and Jameer Nelson eight points and seven assists.

"Basketball is a game of runs. They made their run and we made ours," Nelson said. "We're very fortunate to come out with a victory."

Said Magic coach Stan Van Gundy: "It just keeps getting crazier by the day. ... It was a good win even though the team you're playing is 50 games under .500."

Notes: The loss was Charlotte's 11th straight on the road. ... Brown left the game with a sprained right ankle in the fourth quarter. ... The Magic improved to 25-5 when scoring 100 or more points. ... Turkoglu has been cleared for contact by doctors after three weeks of rehab following surgery to repair facial fractures. He wore a new protective mask during the Magic's morning walkthrough, but said it bothered him and needed to be adjusted before his return to action.

Notebook: Magic 102, Bobcats 95

Posted Wednesday April 25, 2012 11:36PM

By Dick Scanlon, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: J.J. Redick's career-high 31 points helped the Orlando Magic clinch the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 102-95 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.

The loss was the 22nd straight for Bobcats, the fifth-longest losing streak in NBA history.

Charlotte was down by only six points midway through the fourth quarter when Redick made two straight 3-pointers to push Orlando's lead back to double figures.

Ryan Anderson had 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Magic, who will play the Indiana Pacers in the first round.

D.J. Augustin scored 23 points for the Bobcats, who will finish with the worst record in NBA history if they lose their season finale Thursday night against the New York Knicks.

QUOTABLE: "I think everything is settled right now. (The Knicks) have their spot and Orlando has their spot so New York . . . we'll see who they play. If we play the way we did tonight, I think we have a chance."
-- Bobcats coach Paul Silas

THE STAT: Magic point guard Jameer Nelson was one rebound and one assists short of a triple-double when he fouled out with 2:42 let in the game.

QUOTABLE II: "I told my team: 'If that's what it takes for us to win, I'll foul out every game."
-- Nelson

TURNING POINT: Once up by 17, the Magic were clinging to a six-point lead in the fourth quarter and an ankle injury had taken starting center Glen Davis out of the game. Redick nailed a 3-pointer, then hit another one 34 seconds later.

QUOTABLE III: "I think you have to give them some credit for playing hard. I think we played hard, too; that's what I felt on the court. They did, too. They didn't lay down."
-- Redick

HOT: Redick connected on 6-of-10 3-point shots and all seven of his free throws.

NOT: While leading the Bobcats with nine rebounds, guard Kemba Walker shot 2-for-11.

ROOKIE WATCH: Bobcats center Bismack Biyombo, who had solid games against the Magic in their last two meetings, got in early could trouble and was no factor, finishing with five points and eight rebounds. He did block three shots, marking the eighth straight game in which he has blocked two or more. ... Orlando center Daniel Orton, pressed into service by injuries to Dwight Howard and Glen Davis, had eight points and two rebounds in 22 minutes.

NOTABLE: With a loss Thursday night, the Bobcats would finish 7-59 for a percentage of .106. The Philadelphia 76ers of 1972-73 went 9-73 for a .109 percentage. ... Derrick Brown, who scored 16 points for the Bobcats, injured his ankle and is doubtful for the finale. ... Davis, who went to the Magic locker room with an ankle injury in the first quarter, was walking after the game, but is unlikely to play Thursday night at Memphis.

UP NEXT: For the Bobcats, Thursday vs. New York. For the Magic, Thursday @ Memphis.

• Bobcats: Maggette, Najera
• Magic: Howard, Turkoglu

• Bobcats: --
• Magic: Richardson

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Amway Center, Orlando, FL
• Officials: #25 Tony Brothers, #11 Derrick Collins, #28 Tommy Nunez Jr.
• Attendance: 19152
• Duration: 2:16