Magic at Trail Blazers
Large improvements on the defensive end are getting the Portland Trail Blazers headed back in the right direction, and a big win on Wednesday could be a stepping stone going forward. The Trail Blazers will try to keep up the intensity on the defensive end and earn a third straight win when they host the Orlando Magic on Friday.
A 108-87 victory over the Lakers could be brushed aside due to Los Angeles' place in the standings, but following it up with a 102-86 triumph over the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers makes people take notice. "We defended for a full game," Portland star point guard Damian Lillard told reporters. "From the start of the game, they scored 20 in the first quarter and from that point on we just sustained that level of focus and energy on that end of the floor against a really good offensive team." The Trail Blazers will not be going up against a really good offensive team on Friday, as the Magic failed to reach 100 points during a four-game slide and are 27th in the NBA in scoring average (98.8 points). "It’s a make-or-miss league a lot of times and we just didn’t make enough plays down the stretch," Magic coach Frank Vogel told reporters following a 105-96 setback at the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. "We’ve got to have a defensive identity and be able to rely on our defense when our shots aren’t going. We’re continuing to try and establish that, but it hasn’t taken shape yet."
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FSN Florida, KGW (Portland)
ABOUT THE MAGIC (16-24): The relative weakness of the Eastern Conference means no team is out of the postseason race as the midway point of the season approaches, and Orlando is trying to maintain a positive outlook despite dropping six of its last seven games and losing the first two of a six-game trip. "We knew that this would be a tough trip, but this isn’t the time to get down on ourselves," shooting guard Jodie Meeks told the team's website. "We’ve got to keep competing. We have to have faith that it will turn around. By no means are we out of the playoff hunt and until we are, we’ve got to keep grinding." Meeks scored 14 points in Wednesday's loss - three more than in his previous three games combined.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (18-23): Reserve swingman Allen Crabbe embraced the opportunity for extra playing time when Lillard recently missed five games with a sprained ankle and continued to produce even after Lillard's return. Crabbe scored 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting on Wednesday and is averaging 16.1 points in the last eight contests. "(Crabbe) is shooting with confidence but even more importantly, he’s making some really good reads off ball with his cuts," Portland coach Terry Stotts told reporters. "Our passing is improving, I think, because of how hard he cuts and guys are looking for him. That type of play is contagious."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Magic PF Serge Ibaka (shoulder) sat out Wednesday and is day-to-day.
2. Trail Blazers SG C.J. McCollum is averaging 31.6 points on 53.7 percent shooting in the last seven games.
3. The home team took the last eight in the series, with Orlando's last win in Portland coming on Jan. 11, 2012.