77º

BREAKING NEWS

MARKELLE FULTZ

Gordon’s 38 points lift Magic past Nets, 121-113

Aaron Gordon scored a season-best 38 points, Evan Fournier added 31 and the Magic held off a furious fourth-quarter rally to beat the Brooklyn Nets 121-113 on Friday night. On Friday, Fournier and the Magic did little wrong while shooting 51.2% and making a season-best 21 3-pointers. However, Brooklyn would get no closer than 104-100 after Gordon and Fournier revived the Magic offense. Harden snapped a streak of 14 straight games with at least 20 points when he finished with 19. Gordon made all five of his third-quarter shots and had 33 points by the start of the fourth.

Spurs dominate second half to beat short-handed Magic

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio played its first home game with fans and welcomed back four players who sat almost a month due to COVID-19 protocols. San Antonio held an opponent under 80 points for the first time since beating Golden State 89-75 on March 19, 2018. While that quartet returned fully, San Antonio was without veterans DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge. San Antonio is attempting to trade Aldridge after agreeing to part ways with the veteran forward after his role was lessened. … San Antonio is 16-2 when leading by 10 points at any time in the game.

LaVine scores 39 points to lift Bulls past Magic, 118-92

ORLANDO, Fla. – Zach LaVine bounced back from a poor performance a night earlier and scored 39 points Saturday as the Chicago Bulls routed the injury-plagued Orlando Magic 118-92. He scored 22 points in the first half and chipped in seven rebounds and four assists as the Bulls snapped a two-game losing streak. Orlando's Nikola Vucevic, who scored a career-best 43 points in Friday’s win, had 17 points and eight rebounds. The guard, who entered the night 10th in the NBA with 26.5 points per game, had another 12 points before exiting for good. Rookie Patrick Williams chipped in 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Coby White added 13 points.

Antetokounmpo, Bucks pull away late to beat Magic 121-99

Antetokounmpo, the reigning two-time NBA MVP, started slowly and battled through second-half foul trouble before coming alive in the fourth quarter. Milwaukee won a second straight and beat Orlando for a fifth consecutive time in the regular season. Khris Middleton finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Bucks, while reserve Bobby Portis played well for a second straight game, scoring 20 points. The Bucks forced eight turnovers in the second quarter and 11 in the first half and turned those Magic mistakes into 17 points. 15 pick, the Magic informed Augustin that they wouldn’t be pursuing him in free agency.

LaMelo Ball becomes youngest NBA player with triple-double

Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela (15) fouls Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)CHARLOTTE, N.C. – LaMelo Ball isn't wasting any time making an impact in the NBA. “I live my life and I know what I’m capable of, so stuff like doesn’t move me like that," Ball said. “I know that's supposed to happen.”Ball replaced Markelle Fultz as the youngest NBA player to record a triple-double by 177 days. He became only the fifth rookie in NBA history to record a triple-double and the first Hornets player to do it coming off the bench.

Wood scores 22 to lead Rockets to 132-90 rout of Orlando

(AP Photo/Michael Wyke)HOUSTON – Christian Wood scored 22 points and tied a career high with 15 rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets to a 132-90 rout of the short-handed Orlando Magic on Friday night. Tucker with about five minutes left in the third. Houston’s starters didn’t play in the fourth quarter and coach Stephen Silas cleared the bench with about five minutes left and his team up 117-78. Harden had 15 points and 13 assists, and Tucker added 15 points. Rockets: McLemore made his season debut on Friday after missing the beginning of the season in quarantine for COVID-19 reasons.

Magic guard Markelle Fultz out for the year with torn ACL

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz is out for the year with a torn ACL. Fultz suffered the left knee injury in the first quarter of the Magic’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. The former first overall pick was traded by the Philadelphia 76ers to the Magic in February of 2019. @OrlandoMagic G @MarkelleF tore his left ACL and will miss the rest of the season — Jamie Seh (@jamieseh) January 7, 2021Fultz averaged 12 points a game and five assists a game last season. In seven games this year, Fultz was averaging 14 points a game and six assists a game.

Fultz tears ACL, out for season; Magic beat Cavs 105-94

The Magic confirmed the ACL injury after the game and said Fultz would miss the rest of the season. Fultz signed a three-year, $50 million extension last month and was finally showing the promise that made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft as he led the Magic to a quick start this season. Terrence Ross scored 20 points and hit five 3-pointers to lead the Magic, who beat the Cavaliers for a second time in three nights. Collin Sexton scored 21 points for Cleveland, his eighth straight game with at least 20 points to start the season.

Thunder dominate second half and beat Magic 108-99

ORLANDO, Fla. – Darius Bazley had a season-high 19 points, George Hill scored 13 of his 18 points in the third quarter and the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the second half of a 108-99 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday. The Magic were routed 116-92 by Philadelphia on New Year’s Eve and lost on Saturday after making just 37% of their shots. That allowed the Thunder to outscore the Magic 24-17 over the final 12 minutes to break open a close game. Horford drilled a straight-on 3-pointer with 50 seconds to play, sending the Thunder on their way to the second road victory of the season. Magic: Orlando entered Saturday last in the league in 3-point attempts (26.8) and makes (8.8) per game.

Practice time will be in short supply in NBA this season

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra watches during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Friday, Dec. 25, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Joel Auerbach)The Miami Heat just wrapped up two consecutive days of practice, which is significant for this reason: It might not happen again for a while. Practice time is something that will be in short supply around the NBA this season; teams are basically playing every other day, and that — along with travel and mandated days off — realistically leaves time for no more than two practices per week. “I think you need to adjust and at least we’re all on an even playing field, so it’s all relative,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Every team in the NBA will have similar practice quandaries, which comes with the territory of having plenty of four-game weeks.

Magic beat Wizards130-120 despite Westbrook’s historic night

Orlando Magic guard Terrence Ross (31) shoots as Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) watches during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Washington. (Geoff Burke/Pool Photo via AP)WASHINGTON – The Orlando Magic beat Washington 130-120 on Saturday night, overcoming another triple-double by Russell Westbrook in his home debut for the Wizards. Nikola Vucevic had 22 points and 17 rebounds, and Markelle Fultz added 21 points to help the Magic win its second straight to start the season. “I just hate losing.”Despite the triple-double from Westbrook and big night from Beal – who had 11 points in the fourth – the Magic were in control for most of the game. UP NEXTThe Magic and Wizards will complete their back-to-back in Washington on Sunday.

Magic beat Wizards 130-120 despite Westbrook’s historic night

Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz (20) shoots as Washington Wizards forward Isaac Bonga (17) and forward Deni Avdija (9) defend in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Washington. (Geoff Burke/Pool Photo via AP)WASHINGTON – The Orlando Magic beat Washington 130-120 on Saturday night, overcoming another triple-double by Russell Westbrook in his home debut for the Wizards. Nikola Vucevic had 22 points and 17 rebounds, and Markelle Fultz added 21 points to help the Magic win its second straight to start the season. ... Two-way rookie guard Cassius Winston (hamstring strain) was inactive but has returned to practice…UP NEXTThe Magic and Wizards will complete their back-to-back in Washington on Sunday. It is the only meeting between the two Southeast division foes in the first half of the NBA schedule release.

Fournier has late surge, helps Magic beat Heat 113-107

Oddly, the two rivals have started their seasons in Orlando four times in the past five years. Bam Adebayo led Miami with 25 points and 11 rebounds, Goran Dragic added 20 points, and Jimmy Butler had 19 points and seven assists. The Heat turned the ball over 22 times, leading to 24 Magic points. Gordon is confident that the Magic can open some eyes with their play this season. ``I don’t think they think that we’re going to become potential contenders or even have a playoff slot and I don’t think that’s true.

Magic sign Isaac and Fultz to extensions

Orlando signed Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz to extensions, while San Antonio did the same with Derrick White, Toronto with OG Anunoby and the Los Angeles Clippers with Luke Kennard. Isaac ($80 million), White and Anunoby ($72 million) each received four-year extensions. “We are thrilled to keep both Markelle and Jonathan in a Magic uniform,” Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman said. 1 pick in the 2017 draft, averaged 12.1 points and 5.1 assists for the Magic last season. “We’re really pleased that OG will be with us for seasons to come.”White averaged 11.3 points for the Spurs last season.

'Explosive' Durant scores 15 in 1st preseason game with Nets

Deni Avdija, the ninth overall pick in the 2020 draft, scored 15 points for the Wizards. Danilo Gallinari scored 17 points and De’Andre Hunter added 15 for Atlanta, which made 17 3-pointers. Aaron Gordon scored 15 points and Nikola Vucevic had 14 for Orlando. Alec Burks finished with 15 points for New York, which defeated the Pistons on Friday. Gary Trent Jr. scored 17 points, Derrick Jones Jr. scored 15 and CJ McCollum added 13 for the Trail Blazers.

John Wall back on floor, NBA opens preseason in empty arenas

Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford talks to players during a timeout in the first half of the team's NBA preseason basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, in Atlanta. The NBA preseason — a truncated 49-game, nine-day sprint — opened Friday with a five-game slate, action returning to NBA arenas for the first time in exactly nine months. 8 pick Obi Toppin of the Knicks, got their first NBA minutes. Paul George had 10 for the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard managed three in 14 minutes. Both teams shot exactly 30 for 84 from the field, and none of the Clippers' starters logged even 15 minutes.

Bucks beat Magic 118-104, take series in 5 games

Williams scored all 12 of his points on 3-pointers, and Brook Lopez added 16 points for Milwaukee, which won four straight after dropping the opener. Nicola Vucevic had 22 points and 15 rebounds for Orlando, while Evan Fournier added 18 points. Middleton followed with a fade from the top of the key, Williams added another 3 and Middleton's free throw pushed the Bucks' lead back to 105-93 with 5:24 left. Orlando stayed close into the second quarter and was within six points when Marvin Williams 3 began a 23-12 Bucks run to end the half. Bucks: Outscored Orlando in the paint, 42-32 and finished with 16 3s on 45 attempts.

Middleton comes alive in 4th quarter; Bucks take 3-1 lead

Middleton scored 18 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 10 rebounds after being held to one field goal in the first three quarters on 1-of-9 shooting. Wesley Matthews added 12 points for the Bucks, who can close out the Magic on Wednesday. ... We had to pick up our intensity.Nikola Vucevic continued his strong play for the Magic, finishing with 31 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Terrence Ross had 19 points and seven rebounds off the bench. The top-seeded Bucks led by three entering the fourth quarter before Middleton came alive.

Nets beat Magic 108-96, improve to 5-2 in restart

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Jeremiah Martin and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot each scored 24 points, and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Orlando Magic 108-96 on Tuesday as both teams looked ahead to the playoffs. Dzanan Musa added 17 points and Tyler Johnson had 14 for the Nets, who improved to 5-2 in the restart with their third straight victory. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and the Magic eighth, the teams went with limited rosters while getting players extra rest. Starters Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, Joe Harris and Garrett Temple all sat for the Nets, who kept rolling even without them. The Magic beat the Nets in the restart opener for both teams in a game they led by 30.

Warrens hot hand sends Pacers past Magic for 3rd straight

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. T.J. Warren scored 32 points, tying Jermaine O'Neal's franchise record for most in a three-game span, to send the Indiana Pacers past the Orlando Magic 120-109 on Tuesday for their third consecutive victory. Nikola Vucevic had 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic, whose season-best, five-game winning streak ended. Warren again proved to be the catalyst as the Pacers scored the first 10 points and needed less than five minutes to take a 17-3 lead. The Magic opened the third quarter with eight straight points and eventually cut the deficit to 78-66 after back-to-back baskets from Vucevic. Pacers: Indiana had a season-high scoring total in the first quarter and a season-best 71 points in the first half.

Magic build big lead, stay on roll in 132-116 win over Kings

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. The Orlando Magic got a big win and a big loss Sunday. Gordon scored seven of the first nine points for the Magic, who shot 63% in the first half while building a 24-point halftime lead. Orlando shot 52% for the game and matched a season high with 18 3 pointers while shooting 47% from long range. ... Vucevic scored 12 points in the third quarter, when the Magic surged to their biggest lead. Magic: Play Indiana on Tuesday.

Fultz scores 25 in win against Nets

ORLANDO, Fla. – Markelle Fultz had the best game of his career and the Orlando Magic needed it to get past the slumping Brooklyn Nets. Fultz scored a career-high 25 points, including seven straight during a 15-1 run in the fourth quarter that lifted the Magic over the Nets 101-89 on Monday night. ... G Kyrie Irving (shoulder) missed his 24th straight game. ... Fultz scored nine points in the first 3:38 of the game and then 12 in the fourth quarter. LOOKS FAMILIARThe Nets (16-19) and Magic (17-20) both finished 42-40 last season, and the Nets earned the sixth playoff seed in the Eastern Conference based on their 2-1 edge in the season series.

Vucevic, Fournier help Magic hold off Wizards, 125-121

ORLANDO – Nikola Vucevic had 30 points and 17 rebounds and Evan Fournier added 25 points and nine assists to help the Orlando Magic hold off the Washington Wizards 125-121 on Sunday night. Washington made 10 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t overcome a slow start and trailed the entire game. Orlando had to hold off a frantic finish by Washington that saw the Wizards rally from an 18-point fourth quarter deficits. The Magic led 95-77 early in the fourth quarter, but stopped guarding the perimeter and Washington got back in the game. Vucevic added 15 points and eight rebounds.

Vucevic, big 4th quarter sends Magic past 76ers 112-97

ORLANDO, Fla. – Nikola Vucevic had 23 points and seven Orlando players scored in double figures as the Magic came up with a big fourth quarter and beat the Philadelphia 76ers 112-97 on Wednesday night. Augustin, who was moved out of the starting lineup six games ago, played the entire fourth quarter. The Magic shot 13 for 24 in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the 76ers shot 6 for 19 with seven turnovers. ...After failing to score 100 points in any of their first seven games, the Magic have gone over 100 in four straight.