Orlando Pinstriped Post - Magic at Wizards: Orlando visits snowy D.C.An Orlando Magic blog with news, rumors, analysis, and commentaryhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/21281/orlando-fave.jpg2014-02-25T21:23:20-05:00http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/rss/stream/52102232014-02-25T21:23:20-05:002014-02-25T21:23:20-05:00John Wall, Wizards race past Magic, 115-106
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<img alt="John Wall and Maurice Harkless" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/N0_jdISip1EnvYSLsw4I0ZCAz2U=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29174241/20140225_pjc_sb4_031.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>John Wall and Maurice Harkless | Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>In Tuesday's loss, Orlando had no answer for the speedy All-Star guard or the shooters surrounding him.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> continued their road struggles Wednesday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a>, falling by a 115-106 final for their 16th consecutive defeat away from Amway Center.</p>
<p><span>John Wall</span> led all players with 27 points for Washington. The All-Star point guard has his outside shot working in concert with his slick handles on his forays to the rim, making him an exceptionally tough cover. <span>Trevor Ariza</span> and Bradley Beal added 22 and 21 apiece, respectively, to keep the floor spread for Wall. </p>
<p>Magic rookie <span>Victor Oladipo</span> scored 26 and <span>Maurice Harkless</span> added a season-high-tying 22 in what might have been his finest performance as a professional, but scoring wasn't an issue for Orlando on Tuesday night.</p>
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<p>As a consequence of injuries to <span>Nenê</span> and <span>Kevin Séraphin</span>, Washington played much of the night with a smaller lineup featuring <span>Trevor Booker</span> and <span>Chris Singleton</span> at power forward. What it gave up on the glass--Orlando won the rebounding battle by a 45-46 margin--it gained in floor spacing, punishing the Magic from beyond the arc to the tune of 10-of-16 shooting on threes. Orlando's late defensive rotations enabled the Wizards to uncork many of those threes uncontested.</p>
<p>Two aggressive, impressive, and surprising Harkless drives and finishes in traffic helped Orlando to close to within four points with 1:29 to go in the first half, but the Wizards scored five uncontested to end the period, taking a 62-53 lead at intermission. The Magic had to be pleased with scoring 53 points in a half on 50 percent shooting away from Amway Center, but its defense proved to be its undoing.</p>
<p>At the risk of sounding obvious, the object of any defense is to take something away from one's opponent. But with Wall varying his speeds to befuddle perimeter defenders and get to the rim; Wall hitting his pull-up jumpers; Ariza canning open threes; and <span>Marcin Gortat</span> scoring quickly and decisively on his post touches, the Magic didn't take anything away from the Wizards.</p>
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<p>And, in a manner of speaking, the Magic indeed <em>gave</em> opportunities to their foes Tuesday with myriad turnovers, as their 17 miscues led to 23 Wizards points, including 13 on the fast break. Apart from the turnovers, Orlando's offense hummed; this game is one it might have won had it played more soundly defensively and taken better control of the ball.</p>
<p>Despite those numerous issues, Orlando kept the game close throughout due to strong play from Oladipo, Harkless, and <span>Nik Vučević</span>. Those three combined to score all 11 points in a Magic scoring run in the third period, trimming a 17-point lead--the Wizards' largest of the night--to six in a two-minute span. Once again, the Wizards closed a period out strong, scoring seven unanswered points. Ariza scored three of them and assisted on the other four, punishing Orlando more than five years after it traded him.</p>
<p>The Magic simply couldn't get enough stops in the fourth quarter to mount a significant challenge to Washington's lead, though they did draw to within eight on two occasions.</p>
https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2014/2/25/5447868/orlando-magic-washington-wizards-final-score-2014-john-wall-maurice-harklessEvan Dunlap2014-02-25T18:17:53-05:002014-02-25T18:17:53-05:00Report: Nelson to play despite "sinus issue"
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<img alt="Jameer Nelson" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/k-pmL4QoPm1TV03ghUyLPMS218w=/73x114:3402x2333/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29168117/20140221_lbm_mb2_060.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jameer Nelson | David Manning-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The veteran point guard leads Orlando in assists per game.</p> <p>Despite his "sinus issue," the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> will have starting point guard <span>Jameer Nelson</span> available for Wednesday's game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/joshuabrobbins/status/438450617510404096" target="blank">reports</a> Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.</p>
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<p>Nelson owns per-game averages of 12.5 points and a team-best 6.7 assists on 39.6 percent shooting. He <a href="http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2014/2/23/5427556/jameer-nelson-orlando-magic-records-2014-points-scoring-shaquille-oneal">passed</a> <span>Shaquille O`Neal</span> for fourth place on Orlando's all-time scoring list Sunday, just more than a year after surpassing <span>Scott Skiles</span> for the franchise's all-time assists mark.</p>
<p>Nelson avoided joining <span>Arron Afflalo</span> among the Magic players sidelined for Wednesday's game. The team's leading scorer <a href="http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2014/2/22/5435794/arron-afflalo-injury-sprained-ankle-orlando-magic-new-york-knicks">sprained</a> his right ankle Friday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">New York Knicks</a> and will miss an indefinite number of games. </p>
<p>Tipoff between Orlando and Washington is set for 7 PM Eastern on Fox Sports Florida and ESPN 580 AM.</p>
https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2014/2/25/5447434/jameer-nelson-injury-2014-sinus-infection-washington-wizards-orlando-magicEvan Dunlap2014-02-25T17:00:02-05:002014-02-25T17:00:02-05:00Magic at Wizards GameThread
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<img alt="Marcin Gortat" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_9qzjB9zgda04Hz5gwZKQVbPLOg=/0x970:3090x3030/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29136347/468173741.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Marcin Gortat | Rob Carr</figcaption>
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<p>Orlando opens a back-to-back set Tuesday night in D.C.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> hope to end their 15-game road losing streak Tuesday in D.C. against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a>.</p>
<p>Game time is 7:00 PM on Fox Sports Florida and ESPN 580 AM.</p>
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<p><strong>Do not <u>ask for</u>, <u>mention</u>, or <u>link to</u> any sites or services that provide video streams for this game</strong>. Doing so will result in a disciplinary action.</p>
<table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" cellspacing="5" border="1" align="center" cellpadding="5"><tbody> <tr> <th align="center" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3">2013/2014 NBA Season</th> </tr> <tr> <td width="240"><center><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v73/incurock31/3QC/Logos%20non-gifs/ORL__zps606f5ea5.jpg" width="120" height="80" alt="Orlando Magic main logo"></center></td> <th align="center" width="20">@</th> <td width="240"><center><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v73/incurock31/3QC/Logos%20non-gifs/WAS__zpsfc2dde10.jpg" alt="Washington Wizards main logo"></center></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240"><center>17-41 (3-26 road)<br>Lost 1</center></td> <th align="center" width="20"></th> <td width="240"><center>28-28 (14-14 home)<br>Won 3</center></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3"><strong>February 25th, 2014</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" colspan="3"><strong>Verizon Center</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" colspan="3"><strong>7:00 PM</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" colspan="3"><strong>Fox Sports Florida / 580 AM</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <th align="center" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3"><strong>Possible Starters</strong></th> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Jameer Nelson</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PG</th> <td width="240" bgcolor="gold"><span>John Wall</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Victor Oladipo</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SG</th> <td width="240"><span>Bradley Beal</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Maurice Harkless</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SF</th> <td width="240"><span>Trevor Ariza</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Tobias Harris</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PF</th> <td width="240"><span>Trevor Booker</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Nik Vučević</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">C</th> <td width="240"><span>Marcin Gortat</span></td> </tr> <tr> <th align="center" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3"><strong>Advanced Stats, via NBA.com/stats</strong></th> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">95.9 (18th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">Pace</th> <td width="240">95.7 (19th)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">99.0 (26th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">ORtg</th> <td width="240">101.8 (21st)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">104.4 (17th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">DRtg</th> <td width="240">102.0 (9th)</td> </tr> <tr><th height="20" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver"></th></tr> </tbody></table>
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https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2014/2/25/5445126/magic-at-wizards-game-time-tv-schedule-and-moreEvan Dunlap2014-02-25T11:56:18-05:002014-02-25T11:56:18-05:00Magic at Wizards: Orlando aims for rare D.C. win
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<img alt="John Wall" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Rh0nbCB2GsJKqeNcsOaS7wBrzrw=/945x125:3463x1804/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29136105/20140222_gav_aq3_195.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>John Wall | Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Magic have lost their last four games in the Nation's Capital. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> visit the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> on Tuesday to open a back-to-back road set. Orlando has lost four straight in D.C. and 15 consecutive road games overall, making Tuesday's matchup an exceptionally tough challenge.</p>
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<p>Tipoff between Orlando and Washington is set for 7:00 PM Eastern on Fox Sports Florida and ESPN 580 AM in Orlando. The Orlando Pinstriped Post GameThread will appear at 5:00 PM in this StoryStream and on the cover.</p>
<p><strong>Orlando's last time out</strong>: The Magic stayed competitive in the first half of their trip north of the border Sunday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Toronto Raptors</a>, but fell apart defensively after intermission, yielding 61 points on 65.5 percent shooting in a 105-90 defeat. In <span>Arron Afflalo's</span> absence, <span>Tobias Harris</span> scored a season-high-tying 28 points for the Magic. </p>
<p><strong>Washington's last time out</strong>: All-Star point guard <span>John Wall</span> scored 21 points and dished nine assists as Washington coasted to a 96-83 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> on Monday. The Wizards won the game but suffered a key loss as <span>Nenê</span>, their starting power forward, <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2014/2/24/5443698/nene-injury-update-wizards-4-6-weeks" target="blank">sprained</a> a ligament in his left knee, which injury will keep him out of action for an estimated six weeks.</p>
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<p><strong>The last meeting</strong>: The Wizards routed the Magic, 98-80, on December 2nd by winning each of the three final quarters outright. <span>Trevor Ariza</span> and <span>Marcin Gortat</span> tormented their former team by posting double-doubles. Afflalo scored an efficient 21 points to lead Orlando.</p>
https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2014/2/25/5445112/washington-wizards-orlando-magic-2014-nba-scheduleEvan Dunlap