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| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| MAGIC | 30 | 30 | 21 | 31 | 112 |
| WIZARDS | 25 | 27 | 23 | 28 | 103 |
Recap:
WASHINGTON -- As the regular season winds down, the Orlando Magic will be keeping a close eye on the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
Here's something else they're going to monitor: Dwight Howard's technical foul count.
Howard had 18 points, 13 rebounds, a career-high seven assists and five blocks in Orlando's 112-103 victory over the worst-in-the East Washington Wizards on Friday night, and he also collected his 13th tech this season.
Three more, he knows, and he'll have to sit out.
"Well, sometimes during the game, the superheroes tend to lose their focus, and I kind of lost mine tonight, got a tech," Howard said, "but I tried to re-gather myself and finish the game."
His ire was fueled by three goaltending calls in a 2 1/2-minute span of the fourth quarter, and he wondered aloud afterward if some legitimate blocks were taken away from his total.
"You've got to credit the refs for messing up my triple-double tonight," Howard said with a laugh. "It was so close. Dang the refs. Nah, I love those guys."
He and Stan Van Gundy also were bothered by a charging call against Howard, with the Magic coach wandering onto the court to sarcastically applaud and laugh in an official's direction.
Perhaps what really irked the pair was the Magic were barely beating the woeful Wizards.
"I was not happy with our defense," Van Gundy said. "I didn't think we even came into the game with much focus defensively."
Indeed, Antawn Jamison scored a season-high 36 points for the Wizards, and second-year guard Nick Young added 20.
Young even drove by Howard along the baseline once en route to a thunderous slam. Not much later, Young tried to beat the big guy to the rim again on a reverse dunk, only to have Howard swat that one away.
"After he blocked the second one, he told me, 'I let you get the first one.' I was like, 'Thanks," Young said.
Orlando's depth was more than undermanned Washington could handle, and the Magic used a 13-6 run down the stretch for their sixth victory in seven games.
This one did not come as easily as one might have thought. Consider: The Magic already clinched a playoff spot and entered the day leading the Southeast Division by 10 1/2 games. The Wizards, meanwhile, are now 15-51 and 0-14 against the division.
Plus, the Magic had won each of the teams' three previous meetings this season, by an average score of 100-84.
But Young's jumper with a little under 7 minutes left got Washington within one. And it was still only a two-point game, the Magic up 99-97, with 3 1/2 minutes to go, before Rashard Lewis' 3-pointer gave the visitors a bit of a cushion.
Lewis finished with 19 points, and Mickael Pietrus had 21 points and 11 rebounds.
As if the Wizards didn't already have enough problems -- what with Gilbert Arenas, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson sidelined by injuries -- two-time All-Star Caron Butler sat out the second half with a tight hamstring. And reserve forward Andray Blatche left in the second half with a bum ankle.
"Nothing is really surprising me anymore, as far as guys getting hurt and not being able to play," Jamison said.
Butler, who missed three games earlier this month because of that muscle, had five points on 1-for-7 shooting. He said afterward he wasn't sure whether he'll be able to play in Washington's next game, on Sunday against Sacramento.
Even without him, even though they trailed by as many as 14 points, the Wizards wouldn't go quietly.
About 4 1/2 minutes after his technical, Howard was whistled for charging into JaVale McGee, a call that left Howard shaking his head and brought Van Gundy onto the court.
"He's got a lot of technicals, so he's got to watch it," Van Gundy said. "We don't want to lose him for a game."
Game notes
There were plenty of jeers for Orlando's J.J. Redick, who went to Maryland's ACC rival Duke. "I expected boos tonight, and sure enough they came. Early. Often. It's fun. Sometimes things amaze me," he said afterward, then told of one particular fan near the Orlando sideline who kept repeating a particular taunt. "First of all, it's probably the 9,000th time I've heard that. But I'm sitting there, and I'm thinking, 'This guy's probably a Maryland fan, and they're barely going to make the tournament, and the Wizards aren't having a good year, and that's the best you can come up with?"
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Preview:
At 7 p.m. Friday night, Orlando will take the court in the nation’s capital when it takes on the struggling Washington Wizards (15-50).
While the Magic are riding high after clinching a playoff berth with a huge win over the Bulls on Wednesday, it’s been a season-long disaster in Washington, beginning with Gilbert Arenas on the injured list and continuing throughout the season with loss after loss.
The Wizards have been a perennial playoff team in the Eastern Conference but haven’t been able to put the pieces of the puzzle together this season. Their problems are at both ends of the court, as the Wizards rank 27th in the league in scoring (94.72) and allow the 10th-most points to their opponents (102.27).
Washington’s offensive struggles have been amplified against the Magic, as they have managed to score an average of only 83.7 ppg. in three losses to the Orlando this season.
Those limited points are coming as a result of terrible shooting from the field – the Wizards have made only 40.3 percent of their shots against the Magic in those games, including 27.3 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.
The Magic, however, have shot the ball at a 46.2 percent clip in their three blowout victories over the Wizards this season.
Dwight Howard has performed at a very high level against Washington this season and should be able to do the same Friday night. The Wizards simply don’t have anyone that can physically match up with him defensively. Howard is taller than Etan Thomas and much stronger than JaVale McGee.
If Howard can dominate the paint again in Washington, it should result in the Magic gaining a season sweep of the struggling Wizards.
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Keys to the game:
Don’t Look Ahead: After clinching a playoff berth in Wednesday’s win over the Bulls, it would be very easy for the Magic to look past the struggling Wizards and focus on Sunday’s home contest with Utah. But in the NBA you can’t sleep on any team. Rafer Alston put it best when he said “you have to go in there with the mindset that they are a team that’s in the playoffs and you want to play another playoff style game.”
Be Wary of the Butler: With perennial All-Stars Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison on the court, even the downtrodden Wizards are capable of erupting for a huge night at any given time. In Orlando’s last meeting with Washington, Magic rookie guard Courtney Lee held Butler to a 0-of-5 shooting performance in the first half. However, after the break Butler exploded for 21 points in the third quarter and finished with 29 overall. Although the Magic managed to survive Butler’s onslaught, they may not be so fortunate if he does the same thing this time around. Lee, along with J.J. Redick and Mickael Pietrus must make sure to bring their defensive intensity for a full 48 minutes.
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Game Notes:
Mar. 13 @ Washington: Orlando is 51-28 all-time vs. Washington (31-9 at home, 20-19 on the road) during regular season action, including 3-0 this season…The Magic went 3-1 last season against the Wizards...Orlando has won 10 of the last 14 meetings with Washington...Orlando has won 12 of the last 15 games at home and seven of the last 11 at Washington…J.J. Redick went to Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, VA…For last season’s stats and Magic career numbers vs. Washington… Nov. 8 vs. Washington - Magic 106, Wizards 81: Dwight Howard recorded season-highs of 31 points and 16 rebounds, as Orlando routed Washington, 106-81, at Amway Arena. It was the Magic’s fourth consecutive victory. Mickael Pietrus netted 18 points for Orlando, while Keith Bogans chipped in with 13 points off the bench. Nick Young paced the Wizards with 20 points. The Magic dominated from start to finish, never trailing in the contest and leading by as many as 29 points. The Magic shot 50 percent from the floor and held the Wizards to just 39.2 percent shooting…Nov. 27 @ Washington - Magic 105, Wizards 90: Dwight Howard had game-highs of 26 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks, as Orlando defeated Washington, 105-90, on Thanksgiving Day at Verizon Center. It was Orlando’s sixth straight road win, one shy of tying the team record for longest road win streak. Hedo Turkoglu had 20 points and a season-high 10 rebounds for the Magic, while Anthony Johnson dished out a season-best 12 assists. Orlando led from start to finish, jumping out in front, 38-25 after the first quarter and never looked back. They led by as many as 23 points during the second half. The Magic recorded a season-high 26 assists and committed just 11 turnovers…Jan. 6 vs. Washington – Magic 89, Wizards 80: Hedo Turkoglu scored 22 points and Orlando won its 10th consecutive home game, defeating Washington, 89-80, at Amway Arena. Dwight Howard tallied 15 points and 16 rebounds for the Magic, while Jameer Nelson chipped in with 14 points. Caron Butler scored 29 points, all in the second half, including 21 points alone during the third quarter. Both teams struggled from the floor – Orlando shot 41.3 percent, while the Wizards shot 39.5 percent. Orlando led 30-24 after the first quarter, then held Washington to just six points during the second quarter, setting a new franchise record for fewest points allowed in a second quarter. Washington fought back and trimmed the deficit to 83-80 with 1:18 left, but it would be as close as they would get.
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. WIZARDS: 62 pts., Tracy McGrady (@ Orlando, 3-10-04)
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. MAGIC: 48 pts., Antawn Jamison (@ Wasington, 4-17-07)
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