Orlando Magic 107, Chicago Bulls 79

by Evan Dunlap on Mar 12, 2009 2:47 AM EDT in 2008/2009 Recaps

Marcin Gortat of the Orlando Magic grabs a rebound in front of Aaron Gray of the Chicago Bulls during Orlando's 107-79 win

Marcin Gortat of the Orlando Magic grabs a rebound in front of Aaron Gray of the Chicago Bulls during Orlando's 107-79 win

Photo by Phelan M. Ebenhack, the Associated Press

The Orlando Magic formally clinched a playoff spot in Wednesday night's 107-79 victory over the visiting Chicago Bulls, whom they dominated from start to finish. Curiously, it wasn't the Magic's starters doing the damage. Reserve power forward Tony Battie, who did not play in Orlando's previous game, led Orlando with 18 points, while reserve center Marcin Gortat recorded 13 points and 15 rebounds for his second career double-double. J.J. Redick scored 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting, further cementing his spot in Orlando's rotation. The Bulls shot 31.4% from the field and committed 16 turnovers, due in large part to Orlando's stifling defense, which all but eliminated Chicago's ball movement and forced the Bulls to take contested perimeter jumpers. The Bulls are a one-on-one, jump-shooting team anyway, but they were clearly out of their element tonight.

Team	Pace	Efficiency	eFG%	FT Rate	OReb%	TO Rate
Bulls	94	84.0	34.9%	22.1	19.2	19.1
Magic	94	114.2	53.0%	21.4	24.4	14.9

Gortat and Dwight Howard themselves combined for 14 points and 8 rebounds in the first period, in which Chicago registered 13 points and 8 rebounds itself. It continued the Magic's recent trend of dominating Chicago's bigs, most notably in February 2007, when Howard and Darko Milicic outrebounded the Bulls on their own, 32-31. It's a good thing that Gortat and Battie brought their "A" games, because Howard struggled with foul trouble and Rashard Lewis had arguably the worst offensive game of his career. Lewis missed all 9 of his shot attempts in 24 minutes, and went 3-of-5 from the foul line. Tonight was the 25th game of Lewis' career in which he went without a field goal, but in none of the previous 24 did he attempt more than 4 field goals or play more than 19 minutes. Worrisome, especially given just how off his shots were. Wide right, wide left... this wasn't a case of a guy's shot rattling around and out. It was rarely on line.

Apart from Howard's foul trouble and Lewis' offensive woes, it's hard to find much to complain about. I mean, Tony Battie swished a corner three-pointer to end the third quarter. That's the kind of night it was.

Hopefully, this dominant effort will boost the Magic's confidence, something Gortat has in abundance:

"I'm just going to try to punish them and do my job. If that was one of the reasons why, if they disrespected me today, that was one of the reasons they lost."

They're only one game back of the Boston Celtics in the loss column and still have a chance to overtake them for the Eastern Conference's second seed. Impossible? No. Improbable? No more improbable than losing by 18 to a mediocre team one week, then turning around and beating it by 28 shortly thereafter.

Orlando's playoff tune-up continues on Friday against the Washington Wizards.

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Great seeing the Magic bench play so well

Wow, the Magic bench outscored the Magic starters!

It was also great seeing the Magic take advantage of a Bulls’ team that must have been physically and emotionally exhausted after their excruciating double OT loss to Miami Monday night (the team bowling outing by Del Negro Tuesday wasn’t such a good idea, after all).

How many times are you going to see Ben Gordon and Derrick Rose shoot a combined 3 of 22 from the field? Credit goes to the Magic defense, also. I’m sure they were embarrassed from losing to the Bulls by 18 points two weeks ago, and there was no way they were going to let that happen again.

I had a great time at the game, and my seat was just three rows away from the court, at the side of the basket closest to the Magic bench. I had an end seat too, and had the added bonus of a different Magic Dancer sitting in the aisle next to me in the first and second half :-) That in itself was worth the price of the ticket.

About the only negative sitting that close was that the basket stanchion obscured the view of the court a little bit, but other than that it was great!

During a timeout in the third quarter, Stuff, the Magic mascot, snuck up behind me and threw a large towel or something over my whole head; the fans sitting near me got a good laugh out of it. The guy and his girlfriend sitting next to me said they saw Stuff coming toward me, but they didn’t want to tell me and spoil the moment.

Ten games in a row with me in attendance that the Magic have won.

I wish I could say I’m here for a few more weeks and going to more games, but I fly back to Chicago Thursday night.

by Mike from Illinois on Mar 12, 2009 4:09 AM EDT reply actions

Glad you had a great time.

Looks like you were, indeed, a good luck charm for Orlando.

Have a safe flight back!

This is my end and my new beginning Nostalgia/Alpha and Omega places, it's like a glitch in the matrix/I seen it at all, did it all, most of y'all been pop for a minute/Spitters, sinners and the game get rid of y'all/Y'all got there but y'all didn't get it all, I want my style back/Hate to cease y'all plan it's the rap repo-man - Nas

by erivera7 on Mar 12, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks!

I had a wonderful nine days down here!

by Mike from Illinois on Mar 12, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Monster night for the Polish Hammer

I really hope we can resign him this summer as he gives us a great boost off the bench. This was a big statement in terms of showing how the last game Vs. The Bulls was a freak occurrence.

by big aaron on Mar 12, 2009 4:21 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, the Bulls game I attended was definitely an aberration.

.. and I knew it when it was over. It was one of those nights where Chicago simply couldn’t miss.

I wasn’t too concerned last night, as a result. I didn’t feel it was possible for the Bulls to recreate some of the magic (pun intended) they had against Orlando a few weeks back. Looks like I was right!

by erivera7 on Mar 12, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Glad our main guys got some rest...

albeit due to foul trouble and injuries. Every little bit helps though.

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by MNeilson on Mar 12, 2009 8:39 AM EDT reply actions

Surely it helps, especially with the stretch run and playoffs coming up.

Any time head coach Stan Van Gundy can rest the starters, that’s a good thing.

by erivera7 on Mar 12, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions

and the Celtics losing last night

was just the icing on a sweet, sweet cake. Ahhh…

You read it! You can't unread it!

by TheGiantSquid on Mar 12, 2009 10:36 AM EDT reply actions

If we can't get that 2nd seed...

I’d almost rather have the 4th seed. Avoid Detroit at all costs.

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by MNeilson on Mar 12, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

we need that 2 seed

"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z

by Wmillion on Mar 12, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

It's a possibility.

by erivera7 on Mar 12, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I am most impressed with Gortat.

He really steps up big on the biggest stage apparently. Don’t believe me, he played outside himself in the playoffs sparking some nice fast breaks and key blocks. Not enough, well he played great last night. What’s so special about last night? Well the game was being broadcast live in Poland so he had his entire country backing him and he didn’t let them down. Let’s go Magic!!

by hevchv on Mar 12, 2009 7:52 PM EDT reply actions