Clinched – Orlando’s playoff return has been secured. In what was looking to be a horrible night for the Magic the good news finally came.
Only hours after a disappointing defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers Orlando’s playoff return was secured as the Washington Wizards lost their 5th consecutive game in the bubble.
KINGS VS NETS
In the early tip the Nets beat the Kings by 106-119. This took the Nets to a 3-2 winning record in the bubble. The makeshift Nets squad produced yet another strong game to ensure they kept hold of the 7th seed slot in the East.
Solid scoring again from Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, Joe Harris, Chris Chiozza & Tyler Johnson gave them the win. Garrett Temple & Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrotmade it 7 players scoring double figures.
MAGIC VS 76ERS
The Magic went into the game looking to sweep the Sixers on the season. The Magic were without Aaron Gordon & Michael Carter-Williams along with long term injuries Jonathan Isaac & Al-Farouq Aminu. The Sixers were missing Ben Simmons.
In a first quarter in which both teams struggled to find rhythm the 76ers led 23-25 at its end. At the half Orland led by 2 points, 50-48 & going into the 4th by 79-77.
However the 4th quarter saw Orlando hit a scoring slump. Being heavily under manned the team fought but could not get it done. Orlando’s scoring was led by Evan Fournier (22), Nikola Vucevic (21), DJ Augustin (16), James Ennis (14) & Markelle Fultz (13).
Defeat came as the Magic went only 8 of 32 attempts (25%) from the 3 & were out-rebounded. Unfortunately our cause was not helped by Terence Ross scoring 0 points. On a bad night he shot a 0 from 10 in the field, including 4 attempts from 3.
WIZARDS VS PELICANS
Tipping after the Magic started the Wizards knew that a win would keep their increasingly remote chances alive of forcing a play in series. Going down 107-118 saw the hopes of Washington fall away as they were eliminated.
7TH OR 8TH
All that remains to be decided is whether Orlando’s seeding is 7th or 8th in the East.
Securing 8th would see a matchup with the number 1 team in the NBA, the Milwaukee Bucks (55-14). Should Orlando take 7th it will see a rematch with our playoff opponents of last year, the Toronto Raptors (49-19)
This season the Magic have unfortunately been swept 4-0 by both teams.
To check out the Orlando Magic schedule Click Here.
Orlando will face Boston on Sunday, Brooklyn on Tuesday & New Orleans on Thursday.
Brooklyn are to face the LA Clippers on Sunday, Orlando on Tuesday & Portland on Thursday.
