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Magic dominate in the paint, hold on to beat the 76ers 103-98
- Updated: February 23, 2015
After six games, what James Borrego will emphasize as the Orlando Magic’s interim coach is becoming clearer.
His defense will attempt to build a barrier around its paint.
On Sunday night, the Magic took advantage of the Philadelphia 76ers’ shortage of quality big men, played quality one-on-one defense and beat the Sixers 103-98 at Amway Center.
Orlando outscored Philadelphia 50-26 in the paint.
“We’re going to hang our hat there,” Borrego said. “That’s what we do. We want to win the paint every single night.”
lRelated Orlando Magic have no plans to buy out any contracts this season
Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic have no plans to buy out any contracts this season
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Magic center Nikola Vucevic led the way, scoring 31 points and collecting 14 rebounds, both game-highs, and guard Willie Green added 16 points off Orlando’s bench.
The Magic extended their winning streak to three games — their first three-game winning streak this season and their first three-game winning streak since Feb. 5-9, 2014.
cComments
@Magic1410: They do seem to be back on the right track now, after derailing for several weeks under Vaughn. Now let’s see if they can finish the season strong to build some excitement and momentum for next season.
NHMagicFan
at 4:59 PM February 23, 2015
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“I think it’s heading in the right direction, but we can’t be satisfied,” Vucevic said. “Three wins in a row is nothing to be too crazy about, but we do need to enjoy it. Now we know how it feels when we win and we have to just keep building on it and make the second half of the season better than it was in the first part.”
The Magic are 4-2 under Borrego, although it should be noted that the Magic notched three of those victories against three of the NBA’s worst teams: the Los Angeles Lakers, the New York Knicks and, now, the Sixers.
But, then again, before Borrego took over, the Magic also lost games to the Lakers, Knicks and Sixers.
The commonality to the Magic’s games under Borrego has been their defense. They’ve outscored those six opponents in the paint by a total of 290-186.
“Protect our paint is the biggest thing we’re trying to do,” guard Victor Oladipo said.
The danger with that strategy is that it can give opponents more open looks from long range. On Sunday, the Sixers went 13 for 34 from beyond the arc.
Philadelphia led Orlando 58-57 midway through the third quarter, but Vucevic gave the Magic a 59-58 lead when he tipped in a missed jumper by Oladipo.
“He’s always amazed me at his ability to cradle offensive rebounds and tip at a very high rate,” Sixers coach Brett Brown said of Vucevic.
After Vucevic’s tip-in, the Magic (19-39) never trailed the Sixers (12-43) again.
But Philly gave Orlando plenty of dicey moments.
The Sixers cut the Magic’s lead to 81-79 with 9:31 to play on a 3-pointer by JaKarr Sampson.
On the Magic’s ensuing possession, Green swung the ball to Oladipo at the top of the arc, and Oladipo swished a 3-pointer.
Late in the fourth quarter, Brown elected to have his players purposely foul rookie point guard Elfrid Payton to exploit Payton’s poor free-throw shooting.
Payton went 4 for 8 from the line from the four-minute mark of the fourth quarter to the two-minute mark and finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
And the Sixers cut the Magic’s lead to 96-95 on a layup by Sampson with 1:37 to go.
On Orlando’s ensuing possession, Hollis Thompson fouled Oladipo away from the ball, and Oladipo made the foul shot to extend the Magic’s lead to 97-95.
When the Magic got the ball back immediately after Oladipo’s make, Green attempted a floater and drew a foul on Robert Covington. Green sank both of his free throws, putting the Magic up 99-95.
“Willie, he’s helping us on both ends,” Borrego said. “He settles us offensively. He moves the ball. He takes what the game gives him. The guys like playing with him. He brings us a great spirit on both ends.”
After a Sixers offensive foul, Oladipo drove and dished to Vucevic for an easy dunk.
“At the end of the day, I’m trying to win,” Oladipo said. “I could care less who scores, who lays it in. I’m trying to win. That’s what it’s all about. It was a big play for us.”
