Magic 118, Grizzlies 86: Magic get much-needed rout to snap losing streak

The Magic desperately needed a game like this.

Coming off a start to the season where reaching 100 points was considered an accomplishment, the Magic easily surpassed the century mark in a 118-96 rout of the Memphis Grizzlies.

It began with Jonathan Isaac picking up right where he had left off. Coming off a pretty historic game, Isaac followed it up with a 22-point, 8-rebound, 4-block, 1-steal performance, while shooting 9-for-11 from the field. He recorded his first block just 20 seconds into the game and added another about a minute later....

Evan Fournier scored seven points in the first for the Magic, who went on a 15-2 run in the quarter. Despite shooting 41 percent, and hitting only one of seven three-point attempts, the Magic held the Grizzlies to 26 percent shooting and forced eight turnovers in the quarter. Orlando closed the first on a 6-0 run to take a 27-15 lead into the second.

The Magic struggled offensively in the second, going scoreless for nearly the first three minutes as the Grizzlies went on an 11-0 run to make it a one-point game. The Grizzlies took the lead with 4:45 left in the half on a three by Marko Guduric that make it 37-36. The lead grew to five before the Magic closed the quarter on an 8-1 run to take a 51-48 lead into the break.

The Magic’s three-point shooting was dismal, something of an alarming trend this season, as they made just one of 12 attempts. The Magic shot 39 percent in the half, with Nikola Vucevic leading the way with 14 points and Aaron Gordon adding 13. Orlando again did a good job of getting to the free throw line, connecting on 14 of 16 attempts.

The third quarter opened with a drive by Markelle Fultz and a pair of threes by Fournier that again gave the Magic a double-digit lead at 59-48.

The Magic lead reached 13 following with 2:25 left in the quarter before they allowed the Grizzlies to go on a 10-0 run to make it a one-possession game at 79-76. Al-Farouq Aminu responded with a corner three and D.J. Augustin added a pair of three throws (before he was incorrectly called for a shooting foul on a last second three-point attempt by Ja Morant) and the Magic led 84-78 after three.

Orlando, powered by the second unit, blew the game open in the fourth, starting on a 13-0 run and outscoring the Grizzlies 34-8 in the quarter. The Grizzlies missed their first eight shots of the quarter and were held scoreless for the first 5:14. The Grizzlies, who entered averaging 110 points per game and scored 137 points in their win over Minnesota on Wednesday, were held to 3-for-23 shooting in the fourth.

With the much-needed win, the Magic (3-6) snapped a four-game losing streak and had a perfect start to their five-game homestand. Vucevic finished with 23 points, 16 rebounds and six assists for the Magic, who shot 47.3 percent. Fournier had 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while shooing 7-for-13 from the field. Fournier was the lone member of the Magic to make multiple threes in the game, connecting on 2 of 4 attempts, as Orlando shot just 25 percent from deep (7-for-28). Gordon had 17 points on 7 of 11 shooting.

D.J. Augustin had 11 of his 13 points in the second half to help the Magic pull away. Quiet night for Fultz, who had seven points and just one assist, but the Magic as a team totaled 24 assists with just eight turnovers. Fultz did have two blocks as the Magic recorded 10 for the second straight game.

Rookie Ja Morant had his quietest game to this point, as he was held to a season-low eight points on 3-for-13 shooting and commit six of the Grizzlies 18 turnovers. Jonas Valanciunas led Memphis (2-6) with 15 points, but was held to two after halftime.

The Magic next take on the Pacers at 6 p.m. on Sunday.