The Bulls trampled the Magic last night in the Amway Center. A 123-88 final score saw Chicago consign Orlando to a fifth consecutive defeat, as the Magic disappeared offensively in the second half.
A competitive 27-27 first quarter gave way to a disastrous opening 3 minutes 30 seconds of the second quarter where Chicago went on a 18-0 run. The familiar story of Magic turnovers contributed hugely to that run. Orlando chipped away at that lead to trail by 9 points at the half. Unfortunately the second half was another half to forget. Orlando had no answer to a strong second half showing from DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine who scored 23 and 21 points respectively.
Vooch Returns Home
Magic legend Nikola Vucevic made his first appearance in Orlando since the trade of March 2021. Between the first and second quarters there was a tribute video to the All-Star big man. A 16 point, 8 rebound and 3 assist stat line followed as Vooch had a nice game.
However for Orlando that trade was about the future and not the now. It landed Orlando Wendell Carter Jr and a pick. That pick became Franz Wagner.
Top Performers For The Magic
Wendell Carter Jr went up against his former team and put in a very strong game. He again totalled a double-double of 26 points and 10 rebounds, also added 2 assists and 2 blocks.
Franz Wagner put up 15 points, to go with 5 rebounds, 4 assists and a block. His game is consistently growing.
Jalen Suggs scored 14 points.
Moving On After The Bulls Trampled The Magic
Orlando’s record is now a losing 4-16 with the Magic sitting last in the Eastern Conference. They have now lost 5 games consecutively and won only 2 of the last 10 played. At home Orlando have won only one of nine games played. Road form makes slightly better reading at three wins of eleven played.
And it is the road Orlando now take to again. Tonight is the second night of a back-to-back with the Magic headed to face the Cavaliers in Cleveland. The Cavs have a losing 9-10 record, that sees them placed 11th in the Eastern Conference. Like Orlando Cleveland has lost five games straight, which coincides with the absence of rookie Evan Mobley. The Cavs were already without Colin Sexton for the year.
Cleveland last played on Wednesday night, losing at home 120-115 to the Phoenix Suns. Jarrett Allen led the Cavs with 25 points. There were also double figure scores from Ricky Rubio (15), Lauri Markkanen (14), Darius Garland (19), Kevin Love (14) and Cedi Osman (23).
A review of last night’s loss can be read here by the Magic’s Josh Cohen on the Orlando Magic website.
