Orlando Pinstriped Post - Magic vs. Hornets: Orlando hopes to continue success against Southeast rivalAn Orlando Magic blog with news, rumors, analysis, and commentaryhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/21281/orlando-fave.jpg2015-03-02T08:00:11-05:00http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/rss/stream/78927022015-03-02T08:00:11-05:002015-03-02T08:00:11-05:00Magic bench comes to life
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<img alt="Marvin Williams and Andrew Nicholson" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EqzRaucKtr-GCGnGQF_jgKixrh4=/0x97:2129x1516/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45798384/usa-today-8415269.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Marvin Williams and Andrew Nicholson | Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Magic lost Sunday, but their bench gave them more good minutes against the Hornets.</p> <h4>Bench gives a lift</h4>
<p>It might've been a losing effort Sunday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.atthehive.com/">Charlotte Hornets</a>, but the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic's</a> bench once again gave them some very solid minutes. Led by <span>Andrew Nicholson</span>, <span>Willie Green</span> and <span>Maurice Harkless</span>, the Magic's reserves wreaked havoc on the defensive end, while chipping in some on offense.</p>
<p>Despite the loss, the Magic's bench combined for 31 points, 15 more than the Charlotte bench produced. Nicholson and Green did most of the damage, combining for 22, but that isn't to say the rest of the unit didn't help.</p>
<p>Harkless, playing because of injuries to <span>Evan Fournier</span> and <span>Aaron Gordon</span>, got after on the D, forcing his matchup into tough shots, while also crashing the boards, finishing with five rebounds on the night. The definition of high energy, <span>Dewayne Dedmon</span>, once again shored up the Magic's interior defense by giving them a real shot-blocking force, and someone who works every trip down the court, no matter the situation.</p>
<p>Prior to the game, coach <span>James Borrego</span> praised his bench unit. "They just have a nice rhythm right now," he said. "They’re moving the ball, sharing the ball, they’re really active defensively."</p>
<p>The interim coach singled Green and Nicholson in particular. "He’s made shots, he’s made the right play, he’s moving the ball well, he’s really been active defensively," Borrego said of the veteran Green. "He can guard the point guard, he can guard two guards, he can guard some small forwards. So, he’s very valuable to us on both ends of the floor."</p>
<p>As for Nicholson, Borrego is happy with what he's given them on the defensive end, and knows that his offense will turn the corner soon as well. Referencing their game on Friday night against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a>, Borrego said, "I thought Andrew Nicholson was big too. When he came in he gave us great defensive effort and he hasn’t scored it like we thought he would, but I think he’s still trying to find his offensive rhythm and he’ll get that with more minutes as we go."</p>
<p>This isn't the first time this season we've talked about the Magic's bench and the impact they've had. However, since Borrego took over, it's been a recurring theme.</p>
<p>With the season dwindling down, it's big for the Magic to find out which pieces might fit, and which might not moving forward. The play they've gotten off the bench recently may highlight some players who could be extremely important pieces to the puzzle moving forward.</p>
<h4>Payton's struggles</h4>
<p>After putting together a Rookie of the Month campaign in January, things have been a bit rougher for point guard <span>Elfrid Payton</span>. Payton, who put up averages of 10.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 45.2 percent from the field in January, saw his scoring, assists, and shooting percentages drop over the next month. In February, Peyton averaged 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 41.9 percent shooting from the field.</p>
<p>While those numbers are more than respectable for a rookie still trying to find his way in the league, his last few games have been a couple of his worst all season.</p>
<p>After flirting with a triple-double against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/">Philadelphia 76ers</a>, Payton has shot just 3-of-20 from the field for seven points, seven rebounds, and 15 assists during the Magic's three-game losing skid. After a rough night against the Hawks on Friday, it got worse for Payton on Sunday, as he played just 13 minutes, none in the final 20 of the game. The 13 minutes which Payton played were the second-fewest he saw this season, coming in behind the six minutes he played in the Magic's win against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a> in November.</p>
<p>With 60 games under his belt, the struggles for Payton can be understood some. He's still adjusting to playing an 82 game season, and every rookie, no matter how good they are, hits that "rookie wall" at some point or another. For Payton, this seems like that time, and something that he should easily be able to overcome.</p>
<p>The Magic's confidence in the 21-year-old signal caller hasn't wavered. As with every young player and team, you have to go through learning pains, and that's what this stretch should be considered as for Payton.</p>
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https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2015/3/2/8131349/charlotte-hornets-orlando-magic-final-score-2015-andrew-nicholson-willie-greenZach Oliver2015-03-01T20:21:59-05:002015-03-01T20:21:59-05:00Williams' big night helps Hornets top Magic easily
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<figcaption>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The veteran point guard's big night helped Charlotte easily extend Orlando's losing streak to three games.</p> <p>Coming off a loss to the division rival <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Hawks</a>, the <a href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Orlando Magic</a> returned home to finish out the season series against another division rival, the <a href="https://www.atthehive.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Charlotte Hornets</a>. The Hornets got things going early, and all but cruised to an easy victory over the Magic, 98-83.</p>
<p>Early on, things were shaky for the Magic. As has been the case much of the season, the team came out flat on the defensive end, with the Hornets getting easy buckets throughout much of the quarter. However, as the quarter wore on, and their bench began to trickle into the game, the Magic's defense improved. They took excellent care of the ball, not turning it over once in the opening period. Former Western Conference Player of the Week <span>Mo Williams</span> led the way for the Hornets, finishing with nine in the quarter, with <span>Tobias Harris</span>' eight leading the Magic.</p>
<p>Following a solid quarter offensively on both ends, things began to fall apart in the second. Each team had stretches of stagnant play, and each missed their fair share of wide open shots. Orlando's second unit, led by Maurice Harkless and <span>Andrew Nicholson</span>, gave the Magic good minutes, helping them take their first lead early in the quarter. Harkless, getting playing time due to injuries to both <span>Evan Fournier</span> and <span>Aaron Gordon</span>, gave the team a lot of energy, crashing the boards and defending at a high level. Harris led the way for everyone at the half, scoring 12 points in the first 24 minutes. Williams' nine continued to lead the way at the half, as they held a slim one point lead.</p>
<p>Out of halftime, things went downhill and fast for the Magic. Charlotte, after struggling to get anything going in the second quarter, was an offensive juggernaut, making 12 of their first 17 shots in the quarter. Charlotte's strong quarter, coupled with the struggles for the Magic, helped aid the Hornets in pushing their lead to a game high 15 late in the quarter. The Magic made a mini run of their own late, however, cutting the lead down to four heading into the final 12 minutes. <span>Victor Oladipo</span> led all scorers with 19 through three, with Williams' 15 pacing the way for the Hornets.</p>
<p>With the second unit in the game, the Magic began to make a run early in the final quarter. The reserves brought a lot of energy on the defensive end, cutting the Hornets lead down to four. However, the team began to struggle on the offensive end once again, allowing the Hornets to push their lead back up to 12. The Magic cut the lead down to nine briefly, before a three by Williams pushed it back to 12, all but ending the game.</p>
<p>Charlotte was led by Williams, who finished with a game high 23 points and 11 assists. <span>Gerald Henderson</span> and <span>Cody Zeller</span> both finished with 16, with Zeller adding eight rebounds. <span>Al Jefferson</span> notched a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double, with <span>Michael Kidd-Gilchrist</span> finishing with an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double of his own.</p>
<p>Five Magic men finished in double figures, led by Oladipo's 21. Tobias Harris added 13 points and eight rebounds, with Andrew Nicholson and <span>Willie Green</span> scoring 11 apiece off the bench. <span>Nikola Vucevic</span> salvaged his streak of double digit scoring games late, finishing with 10.</p>
https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2015/3/1/8130521/Charlotte-Hornets-vs-Orlando-Magic-98-83Zach Oliver2015-03-01T16:00:02-05:002015-03-01T16:00:02-05:00Magic vs. Hornets GameThread
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<img alt="Michael Kidd-Gilchrist" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/C2JZOSKMFTGX2SKVifU6vBizapU=/0x977:2146x2408/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45794308/usa-today-8397625.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Orlando looks to close out its season series strong against Charlotte.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> take on the slumping <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.atthehive.com/">Charlotte Hornets</a> on Sunday night at Amway Center.</p>
<p>Tipoff between Orlando and Charlotte is set for 6:00 PM on Fox Sports Florida and ESPN 580 AM in the Orlando market.</p>
<p>Please post your pre- and in-game comments in this GameThread.</p>
<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">2014/2015 NBA Season</th> </tr> <tr> <td width="240"><center><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v73/incurock31/3QC/Logos/CHH_wordCROP_zpscch5yd1h.jpg" alt="Charlotte Hornets wordmark"></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/ORL_word_zpsd60d12ea.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Orlando Magic wordmark"></center></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240"><center>23-33 (10-17 road)<br>Lost 1</center></td> <th align="center" width="20"></th> <td width="240"><center>19-41 (9-19 home)<br>Lost 2</center></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3"><strong>March 1st, 2015</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" colspan="3"><strong>Amway Center</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" colspan="3"><strong>6:00 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>Mo Williams</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PG</th> <td width="240"><span>Elfrid Payton</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Gerald Henderson</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SG</th> <td width="240"><span>Victor Oladipo</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Michael Kidd-Gilchrist</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SF</th> <td width="240"><span>Tobias Harris</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Cody Zeller</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PF</th> <td width="240"><span>Channing Frye</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Bismack Biyombo</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">C</th> <td width="240"><span>Nik Vučević</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">95.76 (23rd)</td> <th align="center" width="20">Pace</th> <td width="240">95.73 (18th)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">97.8 (29th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">ORtg</th> <td width="240">99.4 (T-25th)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">100.5 (T-8th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">DRtg</th> <td width="240">104.9 (24th)</td> </tr> <tr> <th align="center" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3"><strong>Season Series</strong></th> </tr> <tr><td align="center" colspan="3"> <strong><a href="http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2014/11/21/7259881/charlotte-hornets-orlando-magic-2015-nba-schedule">Nov. 21st</a></strong>: Magic 105, Hornets 100</td></tr> <tr><td align="center" colspan="3"> <strong><a href="http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2014/12/27/7454695/charlotte-hornets-orlando-magic-2015-nba-schedule">Dec. 27th</a></strong>: Magic 102, Hornets 94</td></tr> <tr><td align="center" colspan="3"> <strong><a href="http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2015/1/3/7485761/charlotte-hornets-orlando-magic-2015-nba-schedule">Jan. 3rd</a></strong>: Hornets 98, Magic 90</td></tr> <tr><th height="20" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver"></th></tr> </tbody></table>
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https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2015/3/1/8128671/magic-at-hornets-game-time-tv-schedule-and-moreEvan Dunlap2015-03-01T13:35:43-05:002015-03-01T13:35:43-05:00Magic to celebrate First Responders Night
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<figcaption>Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Orlando will honor some of its everyday heroes Sunday when the Hornets come to town.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> will celebrate First Responders Night during Sunday's game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.atthehive.com/">Charlotte Hornets</a>. The event will honor emergency medical, fire, police, and military personnel who have devoted their lives to protecting and healing us every day.</p>
<p>The highlight of First Responders Night will be halftime's "Guns n' Hoses" basketball tournament, which will feature police officers, sheriff's deputies, corrections officers, and firefighters squaring off on the Amway Center hardwood for hoops supremacy. Harris Corporation, the sponsor of Sunday's event, is set to donate a $5,000 prize to the winning side, and $2,500 to the runner-up. The teams will, in turn, donate that prize money to a charity of their choosing.</p>
<p>Through the Hometown Hero program, the Magic have partnered with Harris Corporation to honor a first responder prior to each Orlando home game in the 2014/15 season. In addition to earning recognition prior to tipoff, each Hometown Hero receives free tickets to that night's game, as well as access to the Fields Ultimate Lounge. Friends and family can nominate a Hometown Hero by visiting <a href="http://www.orlandomagic.com/Hero">www.OrlandoMagic.com/Hero</a>.</p>
<p>First Responders Night gets underway Sunday at 6:00 PM Eastern, when the Magic and Hornets tip off.</p>
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https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2015/3/1/8129593/orlando-magic-first-responders-night-2015-march-hornetsEvan Dunlap2015-03-01T07:18:22-05:002015-03-01T07:18:22-05:00Orlando closes season series with Charlotte
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<img alt="Marvin Williams and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9gTcOt0p-9r1luLKLauIEVrU6bU=/0x90:2272x1605/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45794278/usa-today-8405645.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Marvin Williams and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Magic own a 2-1 edge over the Hornets in 2014/15. </p> <p>Sunday evening, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> look to make the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.atthehive.com/">Charlotte Hornets</a> their first three-time victims of the 2014/15 season when they host them at Amway Center.</p>
<p>Tipoff between Orlando and Charlotte is set for 6:00 PM. Fox Sports Florida and ESPN 580 AM will offer live coverage in the Orlando market.</p>
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<p><strong>Orlando's last time out</strong>: The Magic dropped their second straight game Friday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a>, 95-88, despite a strong performance from <span>Nik Vučević</span>. The Orlando center tallied 21 points, 15 rebounds, and three assists, but the Magic simply couldn't stop balanced, hot-shooting Atlanta. Four Hawks scored between 15 and 20 points, with <span>Paul Millsap</span> leading the way, and Atlanta shot 14-of-31 on three-pointers.</p>
<p><strong>Charlotte's last time out</strong>: The Hornets' recent woes continued Friday in their 106-98 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a>, their sixth defeat in their last seven games. Newly acquired guard <span>Mo Williams</span> popped off for 31 points, seven boards, and four assists, leading five Hornets in double-figure scoring. Boston's bench did the heavy lifting, outscoring Charlotte's by a 60-16 margin.</p>
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<p><strong><a href="http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2015/1/3/7485761/charlotte-hornets-orlando-magic-2015-nba-schedule">The last meeting</a></strong>: Charlotte avenged two earlier losses to Orlando, earning a 98-90 win on January 3rd. <span>Kemba Walker</span> tore up the Magic, as he always seems to, with 30 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals, and the since-traded <span>Gary Neal</span> scored 16 in 19 minutes off the bench. The second quarter doomed Orlando: it managed only nine points to fall behind by 23 at halftime. </p>
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https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2015/3/1/8128651/charlotte-hornets-orlando-magic-2015-nba-schedule-march-1Evan Dunlap