Bobcats-Magic Preview

By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
Posted Jan 17 2013 4:15PM

With forward Glen Davis back and a soft portion of their schedule beginning, the Orlando Magic hope to make their recent losing streak a distant memory.

They can start by taking care of business Friday night against the visiting Charlotte Bobcats, who have lost 24 of their last 26 games.

After losing 10 consecutive games, Orlando (14-24) has won two of three with impressive victories over the Los Angeles Clippers and Indiana sandwiched around a 29-point defeat at league-worst Washington.

"We've beaten some good teams this year," guard J.J. Redick said after the Magic beat the Central-leading Pacers 97-86 on Wednesday. "And we've been in games against good teams."

The Magic, however, have lost five straight to teams with losing records and can't afford more slip-ups if they hope to get back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Starting with the Bobcats (9-29), Orlando begins a stretch of five in a row - four at home - against teams well below .500.

Having won 19 of 21 against Charlotte, the Magic appear primed to end their skid against losing teams.

"We're trying to win games," Davis said. "We're behind. We lost a lot of games. We've gotta go and kind of catch back up."

After the Magic lost 10 of 11 without him, Davis has given Orlando a boost with 24 points over 43 minutes in two games back from a sprained left shoulder.

Nikola Vucevic has been the team's hottest player, though, averaging 15.6 points and 16.1 rebounds while posting eight consecutive double-doubles.

Davis and Vucevic combined for 33 points on 13 of 21 shooting and 17 rebounds in a 107-98 win at Charlotte on Dec. 15. The Magic are likely to look inside again after finishing with 60 points in the paint while shooting a season-high 54.4 percent in that victory.

Charlotte was outscored 52-22 in the paint Tuesday against the Pacers in a 103-76 loss, its fifth straight, and was outrebounded 60-31 - the largest differential in franchise history.

The Bobcats have been outrebounded by 11.2 per game during their latest skid as they continue to play without leading rebounder Byron Mullens (sprained ankle).

"I don't remember us having a game like that where we got outrebounded that bad," guard Ben Gordon said. "I think there are a lot of times where we put teams on their heels when we have (our) guards out there. We just need to continue to use that to our strength."

Leading scorer Kemba Walker (17.3 points per game) scored a career-high 32 in the first meeting against the Magic, but he's averaged 13.6 in his last 10 games.

The Bobcats have failed to score more than 90 points in each of their last four, averaging 82.8 points during that stretch.

They'll try to break through against an Orlando team that has given up 109.0 points per game while allowing eight of its last 10 opponents to reach 100.

Charlotte has been held to 86.8 points per game while losing 15 of 16 in Orlando.

Bobcats beat Magic 106-100 to end 5-game skid

By KYLE HIGHTOWER
Posted Jan 18 2013 11:13PM

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) A little rest turned out to be the perfect slump-buster for the Charlotte Bobcats.

A jolt from their speedy backcourt didn't hurt, either.

Three days after getting flicked aside in a 27-point loss against Indiana, the Bobcats got 25 points from Kemba Walker and Gerald Henderson added 17 as they broke out of a five-game losing streak with a 106-100 win over the Orlando Magic on Friday night.

"It was very important to us," Henderson said. "A lot of games recently we put ourselves in the hole to start the game and kind of have to climb uphill to try to get a win. It's a tough thing."

The Bobcats evened the season series with the Magic and now return home for four consecutive games, beginning with Sacramento on Saturday.

Charlotte started fast and shot the ball well throughout, with its field goal percentage hovering above 50 percent for most of the night. The Bobcats also shot 17 more free throws than Orlando, including some crucial ones in the final minute to secure the victory.

Their guard play off the bench was also big, with Ramon Sessions leading all reserves with 15 points and seven assists. The Bobcats also finished with just 11 turnovers.

"Perhaps maybe we're not turning it over because some of the guys are being a little more responsible with the ball," Charlotte coach Mike Dunlap said. "And I think that also, as you're playing through some things, it is the only way you can win on the road is if you take care of the ball."

Arron Afflalo led Orlando with 23 points, followed by Jameer Nelson with 22.

Orlando has lost its last six games against teams with records below .500. Charlotte also became the ninth Magic opponent in 11 games to score at least 100 points.

The Magic seemed to be making some progress following their convincing win over Indiana on Wednesday, when they got production from both the perimeter and inside.

That flow was missing Friday, with Orlando racking up 15 turnovers and 28 fouls.

"They got off to a start that we didn't anticipate - a 28- and 29-point first quarter," Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said. "There are no off days."

The Magic were flat throughout against the energized Bobcats, but trailed by just five entering the fourth quarter.

A pair of free throws by Nelson trimmed it to 98-94 with 1:13 to play, but he left the game on the ensuing Charlotte possession following a collision near midcourt.

Afflalo was called for a technical foul for making a demonstrative gesture after a no-call by a referee. Walker knocked down the resulting free throw, and two more to make it 101-94.

Afflalo redeemed himself with a three-point play to close within four, but Charlotte made enough free throws the rest of the way to hang on.

"It was more about our effort," Magic center Nikola Vucevic said. "We didn't play hard enough tonight. They came out real aggressive. They really wanted to win this game."

Henderson scored nine of Charlotte's first 11 points and finished the first half with 17 as the Bobcats took a 57-45 lead into the locker room.

Henderson and Walker combined for 33 points in the opening 24 minutes, pacing a Charlotte team that shot 59 percent (23 for 39). It was the best an opponent has shot against Orlando in any half this season.

The Magic didn't have many crisp half-court sets and got only 11 minutes out of Glen Davis before he went to the bench with three fouls.

Walker's scoring effort Friday was his first 20-point effort since the Bobcats' last victory. Dunlap said he hopes it will help him continue to play with the freedom in the open court.

Walker said that faith and encouragement by the coaching staff is vital for his success.

"It's all about confidence," he said. "If your coach has confidence in you, that's all you need. My teammates have confidence in me also. It's just really easy to play with these guys."

Notes: Charlotte earned its first road win since Jan. 6, improving to 5-14 on the season. ... Vucevic finished with 11 points and nine rebounds, ending his string of eight straight double-doubles.

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Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower

Notebook: Bobcats 106, Magic 100

Dick Scanlon, for NBA.com
Posted Fri Jan 18, 2013 11:27 PM - Updated Fri Jan 18, 2013 11:27 PM

THE FACTS: Kemba Walker had 25 points and eight rebounds to help the Charlotte Bobcats end a five-game losing steak at the expense of the Orlando Magic, 106-100.

The Bobcats led almost all the way, holding off a late Magic rally to win for only the third time in 27 games.

Playing on a sore left ankle, Walker also had five assists.

Gerald Henderson added 17 points, all in the first half, while Hakim Warrick and Ramon Sessions added 15 each for the Bobcats, who were shooting 50 percent for the first time this season until going cold in the final three minutes.

Arron Afflalo scored 23 points for the Magic. Jameer Nelson had 22 points and seven assists before leaving the game after a collision with Bobcats center Brendan Haywood in the final minute.

THE STAT: The Magic, who beat the Clippers in Los Angeles last Saturday and the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, have lost six straight games against losing teams.

QUOTABLE: "We're 14-25 so we have to respect everybody. They're a young team. Maybe they're not playing well, but those guys are in the NBA; that means they can play. We respected them. We just didn't play well enough."
-- Magic center Nik Vucevic.

TURNING POINT: The Magic scored only two points over the last 3:49 of the first half as a one-point deficit turned into 57-45 at halftime.

HOT: Henderson made eight of 10 shots in the first half.

NOT: Playing in only his third game back from a shoulder injury, Magic forward Glen Davis made only 1-of-5 shots in 24 foul-plagued minutes.

GOOD MOVE: Walker, favoring his left ankle early in the game, played almost 36 minutes for Charlotte, basically playing through the injury.

QUOTABLE II: "I was going to play regardless, but I feel fine. The guys around me keep me positive, and I try my best to keep them positive. We're a team and we're all in this together. All we can do is learn from these losses, and that's what we're doing. We're getting better every day."
-- Walker.

BAD MOVE: With the Magic down four and only 51 seconds left, Afflalo pitched a fit after spinning into the lane and not getting a call. He drew a very damaging technical foul that reduced the Magic's chances from slim to very slim.

QUOTABLE: "You're not always going to get the whistle. I should have got a better shot."
-- Afflalo.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Vucevic's eight-game streak of double-doubles ended when he came up one rebound short.

ROOKIE WATCH: Andrew Nicholson, playing 18-plus minutes because of Davis' fouls, had 10 points and six rebounds . . . The Bobcats' Jeffery Taylor had only one basket, but it was a big three-pointer after the Magic had trimmed the lead to three late in the third quarter . . . After starting 20 straight games, the Magic's Maurice Harkless has logged only 47 minutes in the last nine games, including none against the Bobcats.

NOTABLE: Charlotte's last four wins have been on the road. They have not won a game at home since Nov. 21. "This whole league's about back to backs," said Mike Dunlap, who will coach the Bobcats at home against Sacramento on Saturday night. "We've talked a lot about that and at some point in time we've got to cross that threshold and come off the road and win one at home." . . . Fifteen of the Magic's 21 free throws came in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT: For the Bobcats: Saturday vs. Sacramento, Monday vs. Houston, Wednesday vs. Atlanta. For the Magic: Sunday vs. Dallas, Tuesday @ Detroit, Thursday vs. Toronto.

• Bobcats: Mullens
• Magic: Ayon, Harrington

• Bobcats: --
• Magic: Afflalo

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 10

• Arena: Amway Center, Orlando, FL
• Officials: #19 James Capers, #29 Mark Lindsay, #71 Rodney Mott
• Attendance: 17598
• Duration: 2:20