Magic at Suns
The Orlando Magic look to end a disappointing trip through the Western Conference with a positive result when they visit the struggling Phoenix Suns on Friday night. The Magic earned a victory against the Los Angeles Lakers last Sunday, but have dropped the other three games on their trip after giving up 40 points in the third quarter of a 115-112 setback at Portland on Wednesday.
Orlando had won seven of nine before dropping a two-point decision at home against Eastern Conference-leading Toronto prior to the trip, but the Magic have given up 111.8 points per game on the first four legs of the trip and were outrebounded 57-41 at Portland. “We have to play with more physicality, especially on the rebounding,” Orlando center Nikola Vucevic told reporters. “We did a good job getting stops, we just didn’t get the rebound. We have to change that and play with a lot more intensity.” Phoenix might be a cure for the Magic’s ills after dropping six of the last seven, including a 115-99 setback against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday that gave it the worst record in the league at 4-17. Guard Devin Booker scored 23 in the loss and is averaging 28.2 over the last six contests for the Suns, who have given up at least 109 points in each of the last seven games.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Orlando), FS Arizona (Phoenix)
ABOUT THE MAGIC (10-12): Vucevic is averaging 24.3 points on the trip and leads the team at 20.8 overall while topping Orlando on the glass (11.1 per game) after scoring 20, grabbing eight boards and dishing out seven assists Wednesday. Guard Evan Fournier (15.3 points) has struggled on the trip, making just 15-of-47 from the field, and the Magic could be without forward Aaron Gordon (lower back tightness) for a second straight game. Former first-round pick Jonathan Isaac has picked up his production the last two games, averaging 15.5 points.
ABOUT THE SUNS (4-17): Booker averages a team-high 24.5 points and seven assists, but has not been as potent from 3-point range this season (31.7 percent) as he was in 2017-18 (38.3). Forward T.J. Warren (17.7 points) scored 40 combined the last two games and rookie center Deandre Ayton (16.4, 10.4 rebounds) looks to rebound after a rough outing against the Clippers when he managed four points on 1-of-4 shooting. Rookie point guard Elie Okobo recorded a season-high 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting and added four assists in Wednesday’s setback.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Phoenix F Josh Jackson is averaging 11 points on 16-of-31 shooting over the past four contests.
2. Orlando F Jarell Martin scored a season-high 10 points against Portland in 18 minutes.
3. The Suns recalled G De’Anthony Melton from Northern Arizona of the G League on Thursday.