Wizards-Magic Preview

By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
Posted Dec 19 2012 12:18AM

Not much was expected of the Magic after Dwight Howard was finally traded in August.

Orlando, however, is beginning to prove otherwise.

The Magic look to extend their season-high three-game win streak Wednesday night when they host the league-worst Washington Wizards.

After a 5-10 start, the new-look Magic (11-13) have started to come together by winning six of nine in December. They notched their fourth win in five games Monday, rallying for a 102-93 victory over Minnesota.

"I'm pleased with the improvements we've made individually and as a team," coach Jacque Vaughn said. "We're believing in each other, but we still know that we have a lot of work to do."

While Howard tries to help the Los Angeles Lakers get back to .500, the big men who have replaced the perennial All-Star center are playing key roles for the Magic.

Glen Davis has taken over as the team's scoring leader (16.2 points per game), and had 28 points on 13-of-17 shooting on Monday.

Center Nikola Vucevic added 14 points and 11 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double.

Although they rank near the bottom of the league in scoring at 93.0 points per game, the Magic have eclipsed the century mark in back-to-back games to improve to 8-1 when scoring 100 or more.

J.J. Redick contributed 18 points, including 2 of 4 from 3-point range against Minnesota.

His production has been key in Orlando's success, averaging 18.3 points and making 31 3-pointers in the team's 11 wins. Redick, though, scores 10.3 per game while connecting on only nine 3s in the 12 losses he's played in.

After going 6 for 14 from long range on Monday, the Magic are 11-4 when they make at least five 3s in a game and 0-9 when they make four or less.

Orlando will try to continue that trend against a Wizards defense that has allowed one of the highest totals in the Eastern Conference at 7.4 3-pointers per game.

After falling by 30 points at Miami on Saturday, Washington (3-19) was far more competitive Tuesday in a 100-95 overtime loss to Atlanta, its fourth straight defeat.

Five of the Wizards' last six losses have been by single digits.

"The way we play you would think giving ourselves a fighting chance in all these games, (our) record should be flipped," said forward Martell Webster, who had 11 points.

Washington, which is 1-10 on the road, shot 37.9 percent from the field in the loss and is hitting on 38.2 percent over the last five games.

Jordan Crawford was a bright spot, recording his second career triple-double after finishing with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists against the Hawks.

Crawford has played point guard with John Wall (knee) and A.J. Price (broken hand) sidelined, and committed just one turnover after having 10 in his previous two games.

He's averaging 19.3 points in his last three games against the Magic.

Washington suffered another blow to its depleted backcourt on Tuesday when rookie Bradley Beal did not return after falling hard to the floor in the third quarter while fouled on a dunk attempt.

Washington ended a nine-game losing streak to the Magic with a 93-85 victory on April 10 in the most recent meeting. The Wizards have dropped five straight and eight of nine in Orlando.

Reserves lead Magic to win over Wizards

Posted Dec 19 2012 11:21PM

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Much of the Orlando Magic's excitement over a fourth straight win was crushed in the final minute when Glen Davis crashed hard to the floor.

Davis, the team's leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, fell after being fouled by Emeka Okafor with 47.8 seconds left in the Magic's 90-83 win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. Davis lay on the court for several minutes before leaving the game, holding his left shoulder.

"He's huge for us, especially down the stretch of games," teammate Nikola Vucevic said. "He plays with a lot of energy and really gets us going."

Davis, who had 12 points and nine rebounds, will be examined Thursday to find out the extent of the injury.

J.J. Redick, who talked to Davis as he left the locker room after the game, said: "He appeared as a player who was worried."

Magic coach Jacque Vaughn was more positive.

"I'm not ready to write his obituary yet," Vaughn said. "I'm a more positive than negative guy so until I get the diagnosis, I'm planning on having him in the lineup."

Washington has been without its best player, point guard John Wall, all season. The Wizards were also missing rookie Bradley Beal, their second-leading scorer, who sat out with a sore back. They could have used both of them in the fourth quarter when they had an opportunity to steal a win.

Redick scored 17 points and E'Twaun Moore and Arron Afflalo had 15 apiece as the Magic overcame horrendous fourth quarter shooting.

Washington was down 76-63 after three then held the Magic to 21.1 percent shooting for the quarter, but couldn't take advantage. The Wizards got a season-high 20 points from Nene and 19 from Jordan Crawford, but neither could carry them in the final minutes.

"We don't have the guy you're just going to give the ball to and say carry the load for us," Washington Coach Randy Wittman said. "Did we fight back and get back in it? Yes, but we're not good enough to overcome those things. We're looking for solutions, we're trying."

"It hurts, but the moral of the story is you can't give up," said Martell Webster, who had 11 points. "I think if we can keep our heads up and stay confident in our system, things will change."

The win over the Wizards was a season-high fourth straight for Orlando and moved the Magic within one game of .500. That is a big deal for a team that is rebuilding after trading away four of its five starters from last season, including All-Star center Dwight Howard.

"Our level of play and effort has been consistent all season," Redick said. "We still have a lot to clean up, but we're improving. That's the biggest thing right now."

Washington's Cartier Martin, who had 11 points, hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Okafor scored on a layup to pull Washington to 85-81 with 4:02 left. The Wizards had three more possessions to cut the lead further, but Okafor missed two shots from five feet and Crawford turned the ball over to stop the rally.

Redick was 3 for 3 from beyond the 3-point line in the first half, but those were the only shots he got as the Magic spread the offense around. Nine Magic players scored at least three or more points and the team shot 51.3 percent for the half but it only earned them a 52-50 lead.

Orlando was up 48-35 with 4:34 left in the second quarter when the shots stopped falling and the defense faltered. Washington scored 11 straight points, the last three coming off a long-range jumper by Cartier Martin that cut the Wizards deficit to 48-46 with 2:03 left in the half.

Crawford and Nene had carried the Wizards offense to the point. Crawford had three 3-pointers and 15 points while Nene came off the bench and hit five of six for 10 points. The Wizards bench nearly outscored the starters with Nene, Martin, Chris Singleton and Kevin Seraphin accounting for 23 of the 50 points.

The Magic bench was just as effective, particularly at the end of the third period. Moore had a pair of 3-pointers and Redick made his fourth 3 of the game as Orlando opened up a 76-63 lead. Redick, Moore and fellow sub Josh McRoberts were a combined 8 for 11 from behind the 3-point line in the first three quarters.

GAME NOTES: Redick is averaging career-highs in points (14.1) and assists (5.0). . The Wizards are 1-11 on the road this season. .Washington had 20 assists to 18 for the Magic. It was the first time this season, the Magic won a game where the opponent had more assists.

Notebook: Magic 90, Wizards 83

Dick Scanlon, For NBA.com
Posted Wed Dec 19, 2012 11:20 PM - Updated Wed Dec 19, 2012 11:20 PM

THE FACTS: J.J. Redick came off the bench to score 17 points and lead the Orlando Magic to their fourth straight win, but Glen Davis went out with a shoulder injury in the final minute of a 90-83 victory over the Washington Wizards.

Redick and E'Twaun Moore combined to go 7-for-11 from 3-point range and score 32 points in a game Orlando (12-13) lead from the beginning of the second quarter to the end.

A strong third quarter enabled the Magic to survive a 14-point final quarter in which they shot 4-for-19.

With 47.8 seconds left, Davis was fouled on a drive to the basket, screamed in pain as he fell to the floor and was taken to the locker room holding his left shoulder. The extent of the injury is not known.

Nene scored a game- and season-high 20 points and Jordan Crawford added 19 for the Wizards (3-20), who lost their fifth straight.

QUOTABLE: "We weren't good offensively in the fourth [quarter], but we got enough stops -- that's what it came down to."

-- J.J. Redick

THE STAT: The Magic shot 17 free throws -- barely above their league-low average of 16.4 per game -- but nine more than the Wizards attempted.

TURNING POINT: The Wizards were down by only two points at halftime, but they missed four of their first five shots and committed two turnovers at the outset of the third quarter, falling behind by nine. It was all catch-up after that.

QUOTABLE II: "We lost the game in the third quarter. We came out in the third quarter and cared more about 'me' than 'we.' 'Who's getting shots→ I need shots.'"

-- Wizards coach Randy Wittman

HOT: Cartier Martin (3-for-4), Martell Webster (3-for-6) and Crawford (3-for-7) gave the Wizards 53 percent 3-point shooting after they came into the game as the second-worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA (32 percent).

NOT: Earl Barron and Shaun Livingston, pressed by circumstances into the Washington starting lineup, combined on 2-for-13 shooting and scored four points in 45 combined minutes.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Redick is on one of the best runs of his career, averaging 16.3 points and 4.8 assists over the last six games, while shooting 49 percent.

ROOKIE WATCH: Wizards guard Bradley Beal was a late scratch after injuring his back Tuesday night. ... Maurice Harkless had nine points, seven rebounds and two steals in 18 minutes.

NOTABLE: The Magic said they would not have a report on Davis' status until Thursday, and coach Jacque Vaughn said: "Until I get the diagnosis, I'm planning in using the same lineup [Friday night in Toronto]." But the Magic players did not sound optimistic. Redick: "He [looked like] a player who was worried." Rookie forward Andrew Nicholson: "Seeing the replay just makes you cringe." Jameer Nelson: "You always worry when you see a big, tough guy like Glen going down holding his shoulder. As athletes, sometimes things happen and you can't control 'em ... Hopefully whatever is going on with his shoulder is not too serious." ... Center Nikola Vucevic led Orlando's 48-36 rebound advantage with 13 -- his fourth straight double-digit rebounding game.

UP NEXT: For the Wizards, Friday @ Detroit, Saturday vs. Detroit, Wednesday vs. Cleveland. For the Magic, Friday @ Toronto, Sunday vs. Utah, Wednesday vs. New Orleans.

• Wizards: Booker, Wall
• Magic: Harrington, Turkoglu

• Wizards: --
• Magic: --

• Lead Changes: 10
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: Amway Center, Orlando, FL
• Officials: #11 Derrick Collins, #43 Dan Crawford, #74 Curtis Blair
• Attendance: 16893
• Duration: 2:06