Magic at Trail Blazers
THE STORY: The Portland Trail Blazers are off to their best start in 12 seasons and attempt to remain unbeaten at home this season when they host the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. Portland is 6-0 at home and the 7-2 overall start is its best opening stretch since winning 10 of 11 games to start the 1999-2000 campaign. The Trail Blazers notched a 105-97 home victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday when four players scored between 17 and 20 points. Orlando is playing the second of a four-game road trip. The Magic won the opener 104-97 over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday despite Dwight Howard having just five points and four rebounds while plagued with foul trouble. Glen Davis was the surprise star with 20 points off the bench. “The opportunity was there for me to contribute and I wanted to do that,” said Davis. “My energy has been good the last couple of games and the basketball gods rewarded me for playing hard.”
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Orlando), KGW (Portland)
ABOUT THE MAGIC (6-3): Orlando finally saw Davis at his best when the former Boston Celtics forward had a season-high 20 points Sunday. It was only the second time the player nicknamed “Big Baby” had scored in double digits in nine games with his new club. Davis was pressing to impress his new teammates and struggling to fit in, and he was even criticized by coach Stan Van Gundy. He is averaging 8.4 points and shooting just 36.9 percent.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (7-2): Forward Gerald Wallace had a team-high 20 points in Tuesday’s victory and has been a much more effective player at home thus far this season. Wallace is averaging 21.0 points and shooting 65.3 percent from the field in six home contests, but has averaged just 4.7 points and shot 16.0 percent from the floor in three road games. It is a trend that needs to change as Portland embarks on a six-game road trip after Wednesday’s game against Orlando.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Portland has won the last three meetings and holds a 25-19 series edge against Orlando.
2. The Trail Blazers outscored the Magic 86-56 in the paint while sweeping two games last season.
3. Magic forward Ryan Anderson is just 7-of-26 shooting the past two games after scoring 20 or more points in five of Orlando’s first seven games.