Live From the Press Box - Sonics vs. Orlando
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Note: Tonight's Live From the Press Box was composed live, but could not be posted live due to technical difficulties at KeyArena. We apologize for any inconvenience.
No Magic for Sonics in Comeback Attempt
Final: Orlando 110, Sonics 94
I have to think that what happened tonight in the final five minutes or so was to some extent inevitable. The Magic's poor three-point shooting kept the Sonics in this game most of the night; when Orlando got it going, that was enough to put this game away. Still, the upside of the comeback is reflected in the way the Sonics youngsters played in attempting to rally. Kevin Durant scored 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, picking up six of his career-high-tying 10 free throws. Jeff Green had four free throws in the fourth quarter, taking the ball right at Dwight Howard. They'll only get better as that attacking style is paired with experience.
Tonight's outcome had everything to do with the play of Orlando's Dwight Howard, who was a beast in the paint throughout. Howard finished with a career-high 39 points to go along with 16 boards for his league-leading 14th double-double. Howard was 12-of-17 from the field and made 15 of 20 from the free-throw line. The Magic also got an impressive performance from backup point guard Carlos Arroyo, who handed out a career-high 14 assists.
The Sonics will be back at it Friday, when the Indiana Pacers will visit KeyArena. It should be a fun atmosphere for Friday Night Live presented by Miller Genuine Draft. 
Get your tickets now for that game and don't forget to check out SUPERSONICS.COM for complete preview coverage.
Magic Find the Range
Fourth Quarter: Orlando 108, Sonics 94
You had to know the NBA's leaders in three-pointers made would not continue to misfire from distance all night long, and that has proven the case. After hitting just 6-of-24 from downtown through the six-minute mark, the Magic has connected on four since then in five attempts. That's turned a close game into a comfortable margin for the Magic - 14 points with 1:14 to go. As was the case with Sunday's game against San Antonio, it doesn't look like the final margin will reflect how truly competitive this game was tonight.
Sonics Looking to Continue Comeback
Fourth Quarter: Orlando 99, Sonics 94
The Sonics got within as close as two points at the 4:35 mark, when two Wally Szczerbiak free throws made it 93-92 Orlando. The Magic responded, however, with back-to-back three-point possessions - the first taking advantage of a defensive three-second violation on the Sonics, the next requiring a Keith Bogans triple.
The Sonics have the only score since then, a pair of Jeff Green free throws, but they trail by five with 2:32 to play and Orlando has possession. Given rookies Green and Kevin Durant credit for their aggressiveness late in this game - they've both shot multiple free throws in the period.
We've Got a Ballgame
Fourth Quarter: Orlando 89, Sonics 84
The Sonics have wasted little time getting back into this game here in the fourth quarter. A pair of Kevin Durant free throws drew the team within four points. The margin is five as we head to a timeout with 6:09 left to play. Durant has found more success taking the ball to the hole in this fourth quarter. He's 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. At the other end, the Sonics have succeeded with a zone defense. The Magic's shooters haven't had the range tonight, shooting 6-for-24 from three-point range.
One concern: Just before the timeout, Kurt Thomas picked up his fifth foul. The Sonics need him in the game to battle with Dwight Howard in the paint.
Sonics Move Quickly
Fourth Quarter: Orlando 83, Sonics 74
6-0 run to the start the period for the Sonics, bringing them back within nine points and prompting a quick timeout by an animated Stan Van Gundy. This is exactly what they needed in terms of getting back in this game. Unfortunately, Dwight Howard is returning to the game, replacing Adonal Foyle.
Kudos to Earl Watson for trying to make a heads-up play and take the ball away from Carlos Arroyo before the referees could grant Arroyo's request for a timeout. Alas, Kenny Mauer wasn't going for it..
Sonics Must Move Quickly
End Third Quarter: Orlando 83, Sonics 68
Despite their 35.9% shooting and the dominance of Dwight Howard (30 points, 13 rebounds), the Sonics aren't out of this game as we head to the fourth quarter. If they hope to rally, they'll need to come out of the quarter break strong. P.J. Carlesimo sends out Earl Watson, Kevin Durant, Wally Szczerbiak, Chris Wilcox and Kurt Thomas. The Sonics have a chance to cut into the lead with Dwight Howard resting on the bench.
Sonics Can't Get it Going
Third Quarter: Orlando 73, Sonics 60
Different players have had their moments tonight for the Sonics, most recently Damien Wilkins. Eight of Wilkins' 10 points have come here in the third quarter. As a team, however, the Sonics can't seem to move their field-goal percentage north from around the 36.1% mark it's currently stuck on. The pacing of this game has largely been dictated by how Orlando's offense has been going.
The Orlando game notes report that Dwight Howard leads the NBA with 64 dunks - a mere 35 more than his closest competitor (Andrew Bynum of the L.A. Lakers). Tonight has done nothing to change that; unofficially, we have Howard for about six dunks tonight amongst his eight field goals. Incidentally, Sonics forward Chris Wilcox is third in the league with 27 dunks.
Howard Factor
Third Quarter: Orlando 64, Sonics 56
Dwight Howard has probably even been more dominant as a figure in this third quarter than he was in his tremendous first half of basketball. Howard is 1-for-3 in the first six-plus minutes of the period, as well as 2-of-5 at the free-throw line. The Sonics have been forced to foul him several times in the paint. Kurt Thomas and Chris Wilcox both have four fouls and are out of the game, replaced by Jeff Green and Mouhamed Sene up front. Howard already has a double-double, his league-leading 14th of the season.
Sonics Trail at the Half
Halftime: Orlando 57, Sonics 45
The Magic used a 14-2 run late in the second quarter to blow this game open, but the Sonics recaptured some momentum heading to the locker room by closing the half with a pair of three-pointers. The Sonics also played some nice defense on the last play of the half, tipping away an alley-oop intended for Dwight Howard with Wally Szczerbiak leaping into the crowd to save the ball. The Sonics now go into the half trailing by 12.
The Sonics did a strong job of taking care of the basketball in the first half with just fie turnovers, but they simply will have to put the ball in the hoop more frequently to make a run. They shot just 35.7% from the field in the first half.
Talking Dwight Howard
Second Quarter: Orlando 50, Sonics 39
Orlando center Dwight Howard was a major topic of discussion during P.J. Carlesimo's pregame chat with the media. Howard is averaging 22.5 points, 14.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks a night, putting himself squarely in the (very early) discussion about MVP.
"He's so dominant it's ridiculous," said Carlesimo, making the inevitable comparison to Shaquille O'Neal as well as another early MVP candidate, LeBron James. Though Howard and James have very different games, the similarity comes in terms of their combination of strength and athleticism for their size. In terms of Howard's improvement this season, Carlesimo cited his improved decision-making and greater poise in the post when facing double-teams. Oh yeah, and all those shooters the Magic has don't hurt either.
Howard has certainly been dominant tonight, putting up 18 points on 4-of-7 shooting with 10 free throws and seven rebounds. Yikes.
Szczerbiak's Shot Falling
Second Quarter: Orlando 43, Sonics 37
Wally Szczerbiak struggled a little bit with inconsistent shooting early this season, which is to be expected as he comes back from ankle surgery that cost him the last couple of months of the 2006-07 season. Also, Szczerbiak is adjusting to a bench role after starting most of his NBA career. It seems like Szczerbiak is starting to get it going on a more regular basis. After scoring 27 points Sunday against San Antonio, Szczerbiak shot the ball well but did not see as much action last night in L.A. (seven points on 3-of-6 shooting in 18 minutes). He's played well tonight, scoring 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including a long jumper just before the timeout.
Great video on SonicsVision during the timeout of Squatch scaring unsuspecting pedestrians out shopping in downtown Seattle last weekend - including one who defended himself with his cane.
Defense Carries Magic
Second Quarter: Orlando 38, Sonics 30
When you think of great defensive teams in the NBA, you don't think of the Orlando Magic. That might have to change. Orlando is the third-best defensive team in the league on a per-possession basis and has done a great job tonight, holding the Sonics to sub-40% shooting with only one free throw and one three-pointer. The Sonics have held a potent Magic offense in check, but Orlando continues to lead thanks to the defense. While Dwight Howard is a big part of that, the Magic defend awfully well even when he's on the bench, as has been the case tonight, which is a testament that Adonal Foyle is still very effective as a defender in limited stretches.
Congrats to the fan behind press row who managed to crack up Orlando's Dwight Howard, sitting on the bench, with his comments.
Redick Gets Going
End First Quarter: Orlando 30, Sonics 24
Orlando guard J.J. Redick, the team's first-round pick in 2006, has gotten some relatively rare early run tonight. Redick, who missed six games due to back spasms, had played only 20 minutes over five games and had yet to score this season. He's got five points in the first quarter, hitting a three and a runner in transition.
Tonight's game features the Naismith and Wooden Award winners from the last two NCAA seasons - Redick and Sonics rookie Kevin Durant.
Howard On Line at the Line
First Quarter: Orlando 21, Sonics 14
There's nothing like sitting courtside to reinforce that Magic center Dwight Howard has the most ridiculous physical attributes of any player in a league full of freaks. Howard's kryptonite, however, is often the free-throw line. Shaquille O'Neal he is not, but Howard is a 60.25 free-throw shooter this season - slightly lower than his 60.5% shooting from the field. Tonight, however, Howard is off to a terrific start at the line, hitting all eight of his attempts. They account for the vast majority of his 10 points and are the biggest reason Orlando has opened up a seven-point lead.
Defense Carries the Day
First Quarter: Orlando 11, Sonics 10
Lots of defense so far tin this one, as the two teams have combined to make just eight of their 26 shot attempts (good for 30.8% shooting). The Sonics have done a good job rotating and have forced three early Orlando turnovers, but they've also benefited to some extent from the Magic not hitting from the perimeter until a Rashard Lewis three-pointer just before the timeout. Chris Wilcox and Kurt Thomas have combined for nine rebounds and had openings on the offensive glass, but Wilcox has been unable to finish in the paint in the early going.
Coming out of the timeout, the Sonics will go with a different look - Jeff Green is in the game at power forward and Johan Petro has gotten an early look at center.
Collison Sidelined
Pregame
Further tests today confirmed what the Sonics suspected - Nick Collison fractured his right nasal wall last night against the Lakers. Collison will be sidelined for the next three games (tonight, Friday vs. Indiana and Sunday when the Sonics host Golden State) before being reevaluated next Tuesday. Without Collison, the Sonics will be a little thin up front. Johan Petro is dressed and available after missing the last three games with a lower back contusion, but P.J. Carlesimo would prefer not to use him before Petro has had a chance to practice.
The Magic play small everywhere but center, where Dwight Howard is a difficult matchup. That will allow the Sonics to give rookie Jeff Green some extended run at power forward, with either Kurt Thomas or Chris Wilcox alongside him in the middle. Mouhamed Sene could also figure into the mix in the middle. Carlesimo said he could envision a scenario in which neither Petro nor Sense plays much tonight, but also one in which Petro - who feels good and had a solid workout earlier in the day - sees extended action.
Signing On
Pregame
Welcome to KeyArena, where the Sonics match up tonight with the NBA's second-best team, the 13-3 Orlando Magic, off to a surprising start to the season. With a defense anchored by MVP candidate Dwight Howard and a dangerous group of sharpshooters on offense including former Sonics forward Rashard Lewis, the Magic has vastly exceeded expectations in the early art of the season. That doesn't seem likely to change any time soon, but the Sonics will try to slow them down tonight in the second game of a back-to-back set that started last night with a loss to the Lakers in L.A.
