Magic-Wizards Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Jan 13 2013 2:10PM

Washington Wizards coach Randy Wittman knows his team just got stronger with John Wall's return, but he's not getting too excited as the team has yet to win three straight this season.

The NBA's worst team will get that chance on Monday night when the visiting Orlando Magic look to build off their first victory since Glen Davis was hurt.

Sidelined the first 33 games with a stress injury to his left kneecap, Wall came off the bench and finished with 14 points and a team-best four assists in 21 minutes of Saturday's 93-83 victory over Atlanta.

Washington (6-28), a 101-99 winner over Northwest Division-leading Oklahoma City last Monday, had not posted back-to-back victories since ending 2011-12 with six wins.

"Still the same year," said Wizards guard A.J. Price, who scored 16 points in his second game since missing 15 with a broken hand. "But definitely new life."

Wall's return certainly breathes some new life back into the Wizards - and gives them an exciting backcourt duo with rookie Bradley Beal - but they still could be without leading scorer Jordan Crawford (sore left ankle) and Cartier Martin (hyperextended left knee) as they close a three-game homestand.

"They say a winning streak is three, so we've got to get this third one," Wittman said.

While the Wizards look to build momentum before heading west for five games, the Magic (13-23) will finish their four-game trip back east after defeating the Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Clippers 104-101 on Saturday to end a 10-game skid.

It was Orlando's first win since Davis suffered a sprained shoulder in the final minute of a 90-83 home win over Washington on Dec. 19 when he was fouled by Emeka Okafor.

"Seven of our last 10 games have all been one possession games at one point or another in the last minute and we just haven't had the ball bounce our way," said J.J. Redick, who is averaging 22.3 points on 14-of-26 shooting from 3-point range in the last three games. "The law of averages worked out."

The Magic season-worst four-game road skid is over after ending the Clippers' franchise-record 13-game home winning streak, but they're definitely not overconfident. Washington ended an eight-game skid in the Magic's last visit to the nation's capital on Dec. 28, winning 105-97 behind 27 points from Crawford and 23 and 11 rebounds from Nene.

"I was the sour grape at the end (Saturday) letting guys know this only counts as one game," said Orlando leading scorer Arron Afflalo, who finished with a season high-tying 30 points.

Afflalo missed 10 of 11 3-point attempts against the Wizards last month, but he led the Magic with 41 points in the two games. Reddick hit 9 of 18 from long range and totaled 40 points.

Crawford leads Washington with 23.0 points per game and 6.0 assists versus Orlando this season, while Nene is averaging 21.5 points with 6.5 boards.

Washington, loser of 10 of 12 in this series, goes for its first three-game home winning streak over Orlando since Nov. 5, 2005-Dec. 29, 2006.

Wizards win 3rd straight, 120-91 over Magic

Posted Jan 14 2013 11:10PM

WASHINGTON (AP) For most of the first half of the season, the Washington Wizards consistently lost. They're suddenly unbeatable, having won three straight.

Emeka Okafor had 19 points and 11 rebounds, leading six players in double figures as Washington cruised to its easiest win of the season, 120-91 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night.

"That was a beautiful thing tonight," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. "This has been building."

The Wizards were just 4-28 before their streak, but beat Oklahoma City, Atlanta and now Orlando - all at home - to nearly double their wins total. Washington leaves Tuesday on a five-game, eight-day road trip while the nation's capital will be consumed by Inauguration ceremonies.

John Wall had 12 points and six assists in 20 minutes in his second game of the season after missing the Wizards' first 33 with a left knee injury.

With Wall back, things are moving a lot quicker on the court.

"It just came out of nowhere - how fast we're playing now. With John back, the speed is so much faster," Bradley Beal said.

Washington shot a season-best 56.1 percent, scored its most points and had its most assists. Emeka Okafor had 19 points and 11 rebounds, A.J. Price and Kevin Seraphin had 18, Beal scored 17, and Jan Vesely matched his season high with 10.

"These games have not been flukes, we've just been playing very well," Price said. "We lost so many close games that I think once we started losing so many in a row, it became a mental thing. When we got to the fourth quarter, it became a mental thing. We just couldn't execute."

For the time being, Wall's minutes are limited.

"He brings the added dimension that nobody has," Wittman said. "Guys have to run harder."

For the first part of the season, Wall had to watch, painfully.

"We just didn't have nobody to close the fourth quarters," Wall said.

Jameer Nelson had 19 points and 12 assists to lead Orlando, and Nikola Vucevic added 13 points and 13 rebounds. Arron Afflalo, who had 30 points against the Clippers, missed 10 of 11 from the field and finished with two points.

"We just, we got completely outplayed tonight in every aspect of the game. Just didn't have it tonight," J.J. Redick said.

Orlando hoped it would be bolstered by the return of Glen Davis and E'Twaun Moore, who were both hurt in games against Washington. Davis, who had 13 points, sprained his right shoulder in the Magic's win over the Wizards on Dec. 19. Orlando then lost 10 straight before winning on Saturday at the Los Angeles Clippers. In the fourth loss in that stretch - to Washington - Moore sprained his right elbow.

The Wizards led the entire game. They were ahead 28-22 after one and outscored the Magic 31-18 to take a 59-40 lead with 1:52 to play in the first half.

"We talked about that before the game - just what Wall does, and how he creates tempo, and everyone else is able to feed off that. And I think at half it was 19-1 transition points. That's tough to overcome," Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said.

Vesely scored eight quick points. Entering the game, he had just three more points (68) this season than he had fouls (65).

Orlando ended the period on a 13-0 tear with Nelson scoring eight straight on two 3-pointers and a jumper. He passed to Josh McRoberts for a dunk to end the half, pulling the Magic to 59-53.

"We let it slip away," Wittman said. He told his team at halftime: "Now, we've got to win the game again."

They did.

In the third quarter, Washington scored 37 points - more than the Wizards had in any quarter this season - to lead 96-77.

"I didn't see the glazed over, `here we go again' (look)," a relieved Wittman said.

NOTES: Magic F Hedo Turkoglu did not play for the third straight game. He scored just one point in 37 minutes in his three previous games. ... Washington F Trevor Booker, who returned Saturday after missing 22 games with a strained right knee, was out with a sprained right ankle. G Jordan Crawford (left ankle) missed his third straight game. ... Beal was presented with the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month award for December.

Notebook: Wizards 120, Magic 91

Rich Dubroff, for NBA.com
Posted Mon Jan 14, 2013 11:41 PM - Updated Mon Jan 14, 2013 11:41 PM

THE FACTS: Six Washington Wizards scored in double figures to lead the team to its largest margin of the season, a 120-91 win over the Oriando Magic on Monday night.

Emeka Okafor had 19 points and 11 rebounds, A.J. Price and Kevin Seraphin each had 18. Bradley Beal added 17. John Wall had 12, and Jan Vesely had 10.

It was the third straight win of the year for Washington, which led all the way.

Jameer Nelson led the Magic with 19.

QUOTABLE: "I didn't see the glazed over, here we go again [look]."
-- Wizards coach Randy Wittman on the team's mood at halftime.

THE STAT: Washington had a season high 32 assists. "It just came out of nowhere, how fast we're playing now," Beal said. .

TURNING POINT: After Orlando cut a 19-point lead to six at halftime, the Wizards scored a season high 37 points in the third quarter to put the game away. The transition defense? "It was terrible. I don't know why it was so bad, but it was bad," Magic guard J.J. Redick said.

QUOTABLE II: "Just some nights in the NBA you're not gonna have it,"
-- Orlando coach Jacque Vaughn.

HOT: Beal was 7-for-10 from the field and both free throws.

NOT: Two days after scoring 30 points in a win over the Los Angeles Clippers, Arron Afflalo was just 1-for-11 from the field and had a season-low two points.

GOOD MOVE: Wittman playing Vesely, who's steadily improved rece ntly. He was 5-for-7 from the field in 25 minutes.

BAD MOVE: Afflalo and Nelson kept shooting and shooting. They were a combined 7-for-28.

NOTABLE: Orlando forward Glen Davis and guard E'Twaun Moore, who both suffered injuries in different games against the Wizards last month, both returned. Davis had 13, Moore scored five.

IN THE ARENA: Beal was presented with the Eastern Conference rookie of the month award before the game.

NEXT: Magic: Wednesday vs. Pacers, Friday vs. Bobcats, Sunday vs. Mavericks. For the Wizards: Wednesday @ Kings, Friday @ Nuggets, Saturday @ Clippers

• Magic: Ayon, Harrington
• Wizards: Martin

• Magic: --
• Wizards: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
• Officials: #55 Bill Kennedy, #11 Derrick Collins, #50 Olandis Poole
• Attendance: 14648
• Duration: 2:04