Portland come to play in Orlando tonight. The Magic are looking to win consecutive games, breaking an 11 game win, lose, win, lose sequence. The game is also a very friendly 11pm U.K. tip time from the Amway Center, Orlando.
The Stats
The Orlando Magic
- Orlando have a 27-37 record, remaining 13th in the Eastern Conference.
- Orlando score 110.8 points per game (28th of 30) and concede 113.6 points per game (17th of 30).
- The Magic are mid-table in many NBA statistics. They excel in getting to the free throw line. Turnovers, assists and three point shooting categories remain problematic.
- Last time out the Magic closed out a road trip in Charlotte with a 117-106 win. Paolo Banchero was dominant for his 31 points. Scoring double figures also was Wendell Carter Jr, Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner.
- The Magic have won 5 of the last 10 games. As stated in the opening paragraph the Magic are on an 11 game streak of win-lose-win-lose. A win tonight would break that sequence, the longest in the team’s history.
- At home Orlando won 15 of 31 games played.
- The Magic remain in the hunt for a play-in tournament. The Washington Wizards (who we have to play twice) are in the 10th and final play-in spot with a 30-33 record. Sandwiched between the Magic and Wizards are the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers. Those two teams play each other tonight.
The Portland Trail Blazers
- The Blazers have a 29-34 record, seeing them 13th in the Western Conference.
- Portland have been struggling, being on a 3 game losing streak. They have won only 3 of their last 10 played.
- Road form has been at times problematic with 12 wins of 31 games played.
- The Blazers last played on Friday, losing in Atlanta 111-129. Damian Lillard posted 33 points.
- The Blazers score 114.9 points per game (14th of 30th) and concede 115.7 points per game (19th of 30).
Squad And Injury News
- Orlando and Jonathan Isaac received the gut wrenching news that having undergone surgery on a torn adductor muscle his season is over. Isaac played just 11 games after his return this season, averaging 5.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.27 steals per game on extremely limited minutes.
- Orlando lost Franz Wagner to a sprained ankle on Friday in the second quarter at Charlotte. He is questionable.
- Gary Harris is also questionable with adductor soreness.
- Caleb Houstan has again been assigned to the Lakeland Magic.
- Portland have significant absences. All out are key players in Anfernee Simons (21.1 ppg) and Josef Nurkic (13.8 ppg and 9.4 rebounds). Also out are Justice Winslow, Ibou Badji, Ryan Arcidiacono and John Butler Jr.
What To Expect As Portland Come To Play In Orlando
- Damian Lillard is a star, a brilliant scorer. With the loss of Nurkic and Simons (they combine for an average of 40 points per game) the importance of Dame to Portland is only increased.
- Lillard is 3rd in points per game with 32.3, he is 11th in assists per game with 7.1. He is top 10 in total points, assists, shooting efficiency, free throws attempted and free throw made. Dame knocked down 71 points against Houston in February. This season he’s also had a 60 and a 50 point game, scored 40 points or more 9 times and 30 or more on 25 occasions!
- A third Portland player with consistent scoring is Jermaine Grant at 20.7 points per game.
- Portland love the three ball, taking 37+ per game. An area that Orlando can effectively reduce Portland’s points is by disciplined defence as they shoot over 25 free throws per game with an 80% success rate.
- Paolo Banchero continues to lead the Magic scorers with 19.9 points per game, followed by Franz Wagner (18.7), Wendell Carter Jr (15), Markelle Fultz (13.3) and Cole Anthony (12.4).
- With the absence of Nurkic Wendell Carter Jr could have a big night. He will battle Drew Eubanks, a very capable shot blocker.
Head-To-Head With The Portland Trail Blazers
- As Portland come to play in Orlando tonight history is against the Magic. The all time head-to-head record of 66 regular season games played sees the Magic trailing by 27-39.
- Orlando have won the last two played, Portland had won 10 games straight before that.
- For the last Orlando home win you have to go back to December 18th 2015.
- The previous game this season saw the Magic take a road win 109-106.
- The teams have never met in the playoffs.
