By Josh Cohen
July 7, 2016
ORLANDO – For the second straight year, the Orlando Magic White squad will play in the Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League championship game. And all it took was a dominant third quarter on Thursday to secure their spot in the title game.
The Magic outscored the Los Angeles Clippers, 30-9, in a momentum-shifting third quarter and cruised to a 79-69 victory. Orlando trailed by 11 after one and eight at halftime.
“Guys did a really good job of understanding we have to figure out a way to win,” Magic White Summer League coach Bill Peterson said. “Really proud (of his players). They kind of sacrificed and fought and scrapped and that’s a real testament to them and what they are all about as people.”
Treveon Graham delivered a terrific performance with 24 points, six rebounds and two assists. Graham, who played for the D-League’s Idaho Stampede this past season, credits hard work, team chemistry, trust and defensive commitment for the team’s success this week.
“We all have a chip on our shoulder, none of us were drafted,” Graham said. “We just want to really show everybody what we can do and help each other as a team to get to that next level.”
The Magic did an excellent job sealing off the perimeter (Clippers went 1-for-9 from 3-point distance). They also limited the Clippers to just eight team assists.
Peterson raved about his team’s defense and particularly Alex Davis, who kept Brice Johnson in check after a big first half.
“Brice Johnson was really hot early in the game, he (Davis) came off the bench and locked him up,” Peterson said.
Arinze Onuaku and Justin Dentmon contributed 15 points apiece for the Magic and Kevin Murphy pitched in 12 points.
Johnson led the Clippers with 19 points, while Andrew Andrews and David Michineau each scored 11.
Magic White will play either the Pistons or Heat in the title game on Friday at 12 p.m. ET.