Magic out to shore up defensive effort vs. improved Nets
Teams are finding it easy to score 120 points against the Orlando Magic in recent weeks, while other than a three-game lull last week, the Brooklyn Nets are showing defensive improvement.
Coming off a rough defensive showing, the Magic will attempt to avoid getting swept in a back-to-back set Wednesday when they visit the improving Nets.
The Magic won three straight Nov. 25-Dec. 1 as part of their 13-8 start and allowed 120 points six times in that span. Since then, Orlando is 7-9 in its past 16 contests and has allowed 120 points nine times, including in each of the past three games against the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards.
On Tuesday, Orlando trailed by 26 in its 120-112 loss at Washington. While the Magic allowed the Wizards to shoot 45.3% overall, they allowed them to make 11 of 18 shots in the third and trailed by 26 with 4:32 left in the third, prompting coach Jamahl Mosley to bench his starters.
Orlando also committed 19 turnovers and 23 fouls and sent Washington to the line 33 times.
"We turned it over 19 times over for 29 points, we're not giving ourselves a chance," Mosley said. "We put them on the free throw line 33 times, that's tough to come back from. More than anything, our energy to start the game, I think that's where we have to turn the page."
Rookie Jase Richardson led the Magic with a career-high 20 points off the bench. Orlando's reserves totaled 62 points while Orlando's five starters did not score more than 15.
After scoring 31 in Sunday's eight-point win over Indiana, Desmond Bane was held to 15 and scored fewer than 20 for the fifth time in seven games. Paolo Banchero finished with 14 but is averaging 25 points in his past five games.
The Nets allowed the final 11 points of their 105-98 loss in Orlando on Nov. 14 in a game that dropped their record to 1-11. Since then, Brooklyn is 10-11 over its past 21 games and 8-6 in its past 14.
Brooklyn allowed 369 points in three straight double-digit losses to the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Wizards last week but bounced back with a steady showing in their 127-115 home win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday afternoon.
Michael Porter Jr. returned from missing two games with an illness and scored 27 as six reached double figures. It was his fourth straight game with at least 25 points, and he also added 11 rebounds for his seventh double-double this season.
The Nets also saw Noah Clowney add 22 points after he was 3-of-22 from 3 over his previous four games. Day'Ron Sharpe added 17 in place of Nic Claxton, who is expected to return from a two-game absence due to personal reasons.
"I think we spaced the floor well, that's good to see," Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez said. "It's good to have different guys scoring because that tells you that you're hard to guard. So great for our guys trying to make that simple play."