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Following a successful three-game road trip, the Orlando Magic return home to kick off a three-game homestand against the Chicago Bulls.
After dropping their first of three on the road in Charlotte, the Magic rebounded quickly, knocking off the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night, and narrowly escaping the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday evening. The road success is a welcoming sign for the Magic, who need to improve there if they hope to carry their success and turn it into a playoff birth.
Friday night will bring another test for the Magic. The Bulls, in the midst of a rebuild, are a team the Magic should beat, especially if they want to have any chance of making the playoffs. Beating teams like the Bulls would not only show growth, but also give them more confidence moving forward.
Both Elfrid Payton and D.J. Augustin will miss tonight's game with hamstring strains. Payton is expected to return to practice on Saturday, while Augustin will likely miss extended time. Shelvin Mack, the only healthy point guard, will start.
Game time is set for 7:00 PM Eastern at Amway Center. The game can be seen on Fox Sports Florida, and heard on ESPN580 Orlando.
Chicago Bulls | Orlando Magic |
Jerian Grant | Shelvin Mack |
Justin Holiday | Evan Fournier |
David Nwaba | Terrence Ross |
Lauri Markkanen | Aaron Gordon |
Robin Lopez | Nikola Vucevic |