Timberwolves at Magic
The Orlando Magic are picking up their play for the stretch run and are looking to move up in the standings in the Eastern Conference. The Magic will try to push their winning streak to three in a row on Friday when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are coming off a shocking road victory.
Orlando swept a two-game trip at Brooklyn and Atlanta to pull within a half-game of the Nets for the No. 7 spot in the East and push 4 1/2 games clear of the Washington Wizards in the No. 9 spot. “We feel good and I feel like we’re playing together, the ball is moving, and the purpose of play is there,” Magic forward Aaron Gordon told reporters after the 130-120 triumph over the Hawks on Wednesday. “We knew we were a good defensive team, but we were just waiting for our offense to come. And now here it is.” The Timberwolves were losers of five straight and 18 of 19 before going into Miami on Wednesday and handing the Heat just their fourth home loss, recovering from a 12-point deficit in the final four minutes to claim a 129-126 victory. Minnesota is without star center Karl-Anthony Towns (wrist) and is gaining comfort as a lineup thrown together at the trade deadline gets more time together.
TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: FS North-plus, FS Florida
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (17-40): The biggest piece Minnesota brought back at the deadline was former All-Star point guard D’Angelo Russell, who led the way with 27 points while knocking down seven 3-pointers on Wednesday and is averaging 24.4 points in five games since joining the team. The moves at the deadline also opened more playing time for guard Jordan McLaughlin, who scored the go-ahead basket on Wednesday to cap a 15-point effort. “They were blitzing D’Angelo in pick and rolls, trying to get the ball out of his hands,” Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders told reporters. “So, I figured we’d get him off the ball a little bit, and Jordan is a good pick and roll player as well. He’s got a toughness about him, especially late in the games, he’s an unflappable guy.”
ABOUT THE MAGIC (26-32): Gordon, who delivered 27 points and 10 rebounds in the wn over Brooklyn on Monday, scored 21 of his 25 points in the second half and added another 10 boards on Wednesday after reserve center Mo Bamba kept the team close with all of his career high-tying 15 points before the break. “He was great at both ends of the floor,” Orlando coach Steve Clifford told reporters of Gordon. “We started the game with good intent, but we lacked offensive energy and they were up into us. Then, when we broke the lineup, those (bench) guys came in and kept us in the game. In the second half, the starters were good and (Gordon) played a great all-around game.” Gordon recorded a double-double in each of the last three games and scored 25 or more points in four of the last five.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Timberwolves SG Malik Beasley is averaging 21.7 points in seven games since joining the team.
2. Bamba added 10 rebounds on Wednesday for his first double-double of the season.
3. The teams split the two meetings last season, with Orlando claiming a 122-112 home win.