FINAL: Orlando Magic 115 - Chicago Bulls 83

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April 9, 2008 - Amway Arena

	1	2	3	4	F
BULLS	26	23	21	13	83
MAGIC	26	36	19	34	115

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By Nick Adams | OrlandoMagic.com

FOURTH QUARTER
The Amway crowd rises to their feet and cheers loudly as their Magic step onto the floor for the final period with a double-digit advantage. Turk and Howard add to that advantage by scoring the first four points of the fourth quarter for the Magic.

Arroyo blows by the Bulls defense for a layup as the Magic take their largest lead of the game at 18 points forcing a Chicago timeout with eight minutes remaining.

Make sure to watch Sportscenter tonight because Dwight Howard just absolutely posterized Andres Nocioni throwing down a one-handed tomahawk in Nocioni's grill. Howard and Lewis share a laugh at Nocioni's expense.

The Magic have begun to make this a show as they take a 21 point lead halfway through the period...Luol Deng the Bulls are bad. I know that was corny but I have been waiting for him to do something good so I could say "Luol Deng he is good" but the Magic have done a great job in holding the Bulls' second leading scorer to just six points.

Howard dunks in his 30th point to go along with his 12 rebounds. Turk tips in two more, pauses briefly underneath the hoop and screams loudly to the crowd.

Orlando's reserves check into the game and James Augustine scores two right off the bench to give the Magic a 20 point lead as we head under two minutes.

A great win for the Magic tonight as they take care of business at home beating the Chicago Bulls 115-83.

Final: Orlando Magic 115, Chicago Bulls 83

THIRD QUARTER
The Maigc had a great second quarter, outscoring the Bulls 36-23, so let's hope the Magic can continue to play well and put Chicago away within the first three minutes of the second half.

Great ball movement from the Magic results in their first points of second half as Rashard Lewis drills a three-pointer.

They should start referring to the Bulls as the "Final Four Five" because they have a college All-American team almost every time on the floor. Good thing the Magic are in a competition of athleticism rather academics because 40 percent of the Magic's starting lineup didn't attend college. You see kids, I calculated the 40 percent (2/5) quickly in my head because I turned down a chance to go to the pros straight out of high school to persue a college degree.

Chicago goes on a mini run but Mo Evans ends it with a two-handed slam as the Magic sustain a 13 point lead halfway through the third quarter.

The Bulls cut the lead down to nine but Jameer Nelson hits a key three-pointer to sway the momentum back in the Magic's favor.

Orlando and Chicago go back and forth to close the third period with the Magic leading by 11 heading into the fourth.

End of Third: Orlando Magic 81, Chicago Bulls 70

SECOND QUARTER
After a somewhat slow first period, both teams heat up to start the second. Howard comes back into the game with two fouls and scores three quick points and Dooling adds three of his own as the game is deadlocked at 32 apiece.

Much better play from the Magic here in the second quarter as they go on a run to take a 38-32 advantage, four minutes into the quarter. They committed eight turnovers in the first quarter and are doing a better job of taking care of the ball while getting open looks at the basket in this quarter.

Arroyo has played very well off the Magic bench leading all scorers with 11 points on an outstanding 5-of-6 shooting from the floor. Howard blocks a shot at one end and hustles down the other end for a two-handed slam to bring the Amway crowd to their feet as Chicago calls a timeout trailing the Magic 44-36 halfway through the quarter.

The crowd is really getting into it now as Howard scores seven straight points including a pretty alley-oop dunk on a feed from Nelson to up the Magic lead to 16 points.

Now that the Magic are ahead by 16 with three minutes remaining in the first half, they must continue to play well and sustain their large margin to make sure they don't allow the Bulls to cut the lead while gaining momentum heading into the half.

Chicago goes on a 6-0 run to trim the Magic lead in half but Nelson ends the run by converting on two free-throws. Lewis hits a big three to put the Magic back up by double digits as we head under a minute.

Great job by the Magic as they close out the half strong and take an 13 point lead in the half.

Halftime: Orlando Magic 62, Chicago Bulls 49

FIRST QUARTER
As I drove to Amway Arena two hours prior to tip-off, it was difficult getting to the parking garage because of the all the cars and people which packed the crowded street. Without even knowing the Magic's record, one could guess the Magic were in the midst of a run toward the post-season as the spring air is filled with excitement and the arena surrounded in a sea of blue and white.

Inside the arena is no different as the anxious sellout crowd awaits the start of tonight's game against the visiting Chicago Bulls.

Jameer Nelson, Maurice Evans, Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard meet Kirk Hinrich, Larry Hughes, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah at mid-court for tonight's opening tip.

Howard taps back to Nelson and Nelson gets the Magic on the board first by canning a mid-range jumper. Kirk Hinrich buckets the first points for the Bulls by netting a three-pointer to give the Bulls the early 3-2 advantage.

Both teams are off to great starts shooting the ball as the Magic have made their first two field-goal attempts and the Bulls have made four out of their first seven shots. Hughes throws in back-to-back jumpers forcing a timeout from a very displeased Stan Van Gundy with the Magic trailing 11-6, three minutes into the opening period.

The Magic are struggling here at the outset and to make things worse, Dwight Howard picks up his second foul and is forced to sit halfway through the first quarter.

Chicago was mathmatically elimated from the playoffs last night with their loss to Miami and they are playing tonight like they have nothing to lose. Combine that with a sluggish start by the Magic and you have an 18-12 Chicago advantage with 4:43 left in the quarter.

Looking for something to spark the team, Van Gundy sends in Carlos Arroyo, Keith Bogans, and Adonal Foyle. Foyle scores back-to-back hoops to bring the Magic within two but Ben Gordon checks into the game and answers back with his two of his own to sustain the Bulls' lead.

For as bad as it seems the Magic has played, Arroyo hits a three to put them ahead 21-20 as we head under two mintues.

The teams trade baskets to end the quarter as Arroyo throws in a layup to tie the ballgame as the quarter concludes.

End of First: Orlando Magic 26, Chicago Bulls 26

SHOOTAROUND
With just five games remaining and the third seed in the Eastern Conference already locked up, you might think the Magic would take it easy as the season winds down and begin to rest up for the playoffs...right?

Not quite...that is unless of course you call having your All-Star center receiving stitches during a practice "resting for the playoffs".

Dwight Howard talked to the media after Wednesday morning's shootaround sporting a swollen upper lip with six stitches thanks to an accidental elbow from center Marcin Gortat at Tuesday's practice.

Luckily for the Magic, Howard, who hasn't missed a single game in his entire 323 game NBA career, is fine and is making lite of the situation.

"I am doing fine. I just jumped a little too high and hit my lip on the rim, so it is nothing major. I just ran into a little Kryptonite yesterday, that is all."

Howard has been "Superman" this season inserting him as the most dominate big man in the NBA, and because of that, teams are forced to punish Howard down low.

Head coach Stan Van Gundy knows the beating his star player takes night after night but is more impressed with Howard's mental toughness rather than his physical toughness.

"I have always known he was tough but mentally I think he has gotten tougher," commented Van Gundy. "He gets beat up in the post and has had to grind through an 82 game season with that. Sometimes he gets tough calls and he has done a great job of keeping his head through everything."

One of those teams whose game plan has been to hack Howard when he gets position down low has been the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls visit Amway Arena on Wednesday having sent Howard to the free-throw line an average of 12 times in two match-ups this season.

Expect this number to increase on Wednesday as Chicago plays a very weak front line having lost their starting center Ben Wallace and power forward Joe Smith at the trade deadline. Not to mention, current starting power forward Drew Gooden, who came over from Cleveland in the trade for Wallace and Smith, is likely to miss his sixth straight game with an abdominal injury.

Chicago's back court, however, is very deep and talented, and the Magic are cognizant of their capabilities.

"Their backcourt of Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Larry Hughes, Chris Duhon, and Luol Deng is an outstanding group of perimeter players, so we will have to be very good defensively tonight," stated Van Gundy. "You can forget their record (30-47), when they are at their best they are a very good offensive team."

The Bulls have struggled mightily this season to regain their play which saw them post a 49-33 record last season, but Van Gundy stated that he expects Chicago's best performance tonight.

"I know they are going to play well tonight because when you are a team with a no shot at the playoffs, toward the end of the season you play your hardest against the good teams. Tonight they (Chicago) will come ready to play."

"They are young and a very active team," Howard added. "They are going to come out strong, so we have to match their energy and come ready to play."

PREGAME
As the 2007-2008 regular season winds down, some teams are gearing up for the playoffs while others are building for the future in looking ahead to next season.

Wednesday's match-up against the Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls at Amway Arena features an example of two teams in each of those scenarios.

The 48-29 Magic have just recently locked up the third seed in the Eastern Conference and are making their final adjustments as they prepare to host their first round opponent in the playoffs.

Chicago on the other hand, sits on the outside of the playoff race with a disappointing 30-47 record. Disappointing for a Bulls team who at this time last season were fighting for the second seed in the Conference.

The Bulls have a young and talented roster with players such as shooting guard Ben Gordon (19.0 ppg) and small forward Luol Deng (16.9), but coaching changes, injuries, and trades has hindered the team's chemistry this season.

After starting off this season with a 9-17 record, Chicago fired head coach Scott Skiles, who led them to a 49-33 record last season, and replaced him with assistant coach Jim Boylan. Boylan has not been able to turn around the Bulls going just 21-30 since taking over for Skiles.

One key factor not helping Boylan has been the health of his two best players, the aforementioned Gordon and Deng whom have missed a combined 29 games this season.

Searching for answers, the Bulls front office made a blockbuster deal at the trade deadline acquiring forward Drew Gooden and guard Larry Hughes from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Although Gooden and Hughes have increased their individual averages since coming over to Chicago, their play has not translated into success for the Bulls who are just 9-15 since the trade.

Orlando will face the Bulls for the first time since the trade and the Magic were victorious in the teams' two previous contests.

In their first meeting of the season, Hedo Turkoglu hit a game-winning jumper to propel the Magic to a 112-110 overtime victory despite 39 points from Gordon and 21 points from Deng.

The Magic shut down Gordon and Deng in their most recent meeting with the Bulls holding the tandem to a combined 16 points in route to a 102-88 win at Amway Arena.

Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard have led the Magic in those two victories as Lewis averaged just under 23 points while Howard posted 16.0 points, 16.3 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game.

With a Southeast Division title and the third seed in the Conference locked up, the next step for the Magic is to reach 50 wins, a goal in which the Magic can come closer to by taking care of the Bulls on Wednesday night.

MAGIC INJURY REPORT
Tony Battie – Out, torn rotator cuff, left shoulder – underwent successful surgery on Oct. 24; will likely miss the entire season.
Brian Cook – Out, fractured third metacarpal, right hand.
Jameer Nelson – Day-to-day, jaw contusion.

TONIGHT’S OPPONENT:
Apr. 9 vs. Chicago (Orlando, FL): Orlando is 33-35 all-time vs. Chicago (19-14 at home, 14-21 on the road) during the regular season, including 2-0 this season (see recaps below)…The Magic went 2-1 last season against the Bulls…Orlando is 4-6 (2-3 at home, 2-3 at Chicago, 1995 Conference Semifinals, 1996 Conference Finals) during the playoffs…The Magic have won five of the last seven, but lost 10 of the last 16 regular season meetings overall…Orlando has lost six of the last eight matchups with the Bulls at home…The Magic have won six of the last 11 outings at Chicago …Magic Senior VP Pat Williams served as Bulls GM from 1969-73…James Augustine played four seasons at the University of Illinois and attended Lincoln-Way Central High School in Mokena, IL…Brian Cook played four years at Illinois as well, and attended Lincoln High School in Lincoln, IL…For last season’s stats and Magic career numbers vs. Chicago, see p. 239 of the media guide…Dec. 31 @ Chicago – Magic 112, Bulls 110 (OT): Hedo Turkoglu hit a fadeaway jumper with 0.7 seconds remaining in overtime, giving Orlando a 112-110 victory at the United Center. It was Orlando’s fourth consecutive win and its 15th road victory of the season, matching the entire road win total of 2006-07. Jameer Nelson led six Magic players in double figures with 22 points, while Dwight Howard tallied 17 points, 22 rebounds, five blocks and three steals. Ben Gordon led the Bulls with a game-high 39 points. The Magic trailed 55-48 at halftime, but outscored Chicago 29-20 during the third quarter to take a two-point lead into the final stanza, 77-75. Nelson hit a pair of free throws with 36.5 seconds left in regulation to tie the game and force overtime. In the extra session, Gordon tied the contest at 110 with a three-pointer with 8.4 seconds left. However, Turkgolu answered with a 13-foot, fadeaway on the baseline to win the game for Orlando…Jan. 15 vs. Chicago – Magic 102, Bulls 88: Rashard Lewis poured in a game-high 26 points, including 4-of-5 from three-point range, as Orlando defeated Chicago, 102-88, at a sold-out Amway Arena. Dwight Howard recorded 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Keith Bogans added 15 points off the bench. Brian Cook also provided a lift off the bench for the Magic, scoring a season-high 14 points. Joe Smith paced the Bulls with 13 points. Orlando led 57-52 at halftime, but exploded during the third quarter, outscoring the Bulls, 32-10. The Magic led by as many as 28 points during the second half.
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. BULLS: 52 pts., Tracy McGrady (@ Orlando, 2-21-03)
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. MAGIC: 64 pts., Michael Jordan (@ Chicago, 1-16-93)