Bobcats at Magic
THE STORY: The Charlotte Bobcats have just two remaining chances to avoid becoming the worst team in NBA history. The Bobcats visit the Orlando Magic on Wednesday knowing a victory would ensure they won’t finish with a lower percentage than the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers, who compiled a .110 winning clip while going 9-73. Charlotte would finish at .106 if it loses to Orlando and in Thursday’s season finale against against the New York Knicks. The Magic have lost three consecutive games.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Charlotte), Fox Sports Florida (Orlando)
ABOUT THE BOBCATS (7-57): Charlotte has lost a franchise-worst 21 consecutive games. Ten of those defeats are by 20 or more points, including Monday’s 101-73 loss to the Washington Wizards. The lack of competitiveness over such a long stretch doesn’t bode well for avoiding the dubious record. “We don’t want to be the worst team in NBA history,” guard D.J. Augustin said. “We know that in the back of our minds going into these next two games.” The Bobcats haven’t won since defeating the Toronto Raptors on March 17. One of Charlotte’s seven victories came against Orlando, a 100-84 victory on March 6.
ABOUT THE MAGIC (36-28): Orlando can clinch the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference with a victory or one more loss by the Knicks. The Magic are in decline mode and were embarrassed 101-74 by the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. Center Dwight Howard is done for the season with a back injury and Orlando is just 3-7 in the 10 games he has missed in April. The Magic have allowed 100 or more points in five of the last six games without having the benefit of Howard’s interior presence. Guard Jameer Nelson left the Denver game with a calf injury but hopes to play against the Bobcats.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Magic have won 13 of the past 15 meetings.
2. Orlando forward Ryan Anderson is averaging 20.8 points and 9.8 rebounds over the past four games.
3. The Bobcats are averaging just 75.2 points over their last five games.