Magic Score Season-High 139, Dominate Nets

By on March 29, 2016

 Andrew Nicholson (44) scores a game high 24 points. Here he drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Amway Center. (photo Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports)

Andrew Nicholson (44) scores a game high 24 points. Here he drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Amway Center. (photo Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports)

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Magic defeated the Brooklyn Nets by a score of 139-105 on Tuesday behind one of their best shooting performances of the year. The Magic shot a season-high 61%, resulting in their most points this season.

This one was over almost as soon as it began as the Magic enjoyed a team-wide offensive explosion, creating a 30-point lead by halftime. Without leading scorer Nikola Vucevic, the team relied on 71 bench points to bury the Nets.

“We were making a lot of shots, getting a lot of open opportunities, playing for each other,” said backup center Jason Smith, “not just one person going out there scoring – it was a good night for everybody tonight.”

Orlando’s offense set multiple benchmarks in Tuesday’s win. It was the fifth-highest point total in franchise history, which was ignited by 73 points in the first half – the second most of any half this season. The Magic tied a franchise record with eight players in double figures, including a career-high 24 points by forward Andrew Nicholson. The team’s 40 assists were the most since Scott Skiles’ playing days, with the last 40-assist game coming in April of ’95.

The game started out sloppy for both sides, but the Magic would eventually find their footing. Forward Aaron Gordon carried the load early, scoring 13 points on a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor in the first quarter.

It was in the second quarter that Orlando did their damage, almost doubling the Nets scoring at 41-22. Andrew Nicholson asserted himself here, scoring 14 points off of the bench in the second quarter alone. The team would shoot 73.9%, including 57% from downtown, to extend their lead to 28 by the half.

It would be a career night for Nicholson, whose 24 points were a team high. The Canadian-born sharpshooter has been productive of late, averaging 14.6 points over his last 6 games. Nicholson was also just the 40th player in NBA history to score 24 or more points without missing a shot, as he was a perfect 9-of-9 on the night – including 3-of-3 from deep.

There would be no third quarter collapse for the Magic, who used the extended lead to give their starters some rest. When it was all said and done, the Magic would lead by as much as 37 – never trailing after taking control in the first quarter.

The team has seemed to find new life after a winless east coast road trip, winning two straight for the first time since sweeping the Hawks on a back-to-back in early February.

Shooting guard Evan Fournier feels the difference, saying “It’s only two games but we are definitely playing better defense…when you play like that, it’s just so much easier.”

Aaron Gordon, who finished with 20 points, says that the team just has to keep doing what their doing. “We play hard, we play smart, we share the ball, and we trust each other. If we can continue to do that then we will continue to get wins.”

The Magic (31-43) will hit the road looking for their third consecutive win on Thursday, taking on the Pacers in Indiana. This will be no easy task, as the 39-35 Pacers currently hold the eight and final playoff spot in the east.

Nets
STARTERS MIN FG 3PT FT OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF +/- PTS
T. RobinsonPF 32 8-13 0-0 2-7 6 6 12 2 1 1 3 4 -21 18
B. LopezC 15 2-7 0-0 1-2 2 1 3 1 0 0 4 2 -10 5
S. LarkinPG 33 4-9 0-0 2-2 1 3 4 3 2 0 1 2 -23 10
B. BogdanovicSG 15 2-5 0-2 2-2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 -11 6
S. KarasevSG 20 1-1 1-1 6-6 0 3 3 1 0 0 1 1 +7 9
BENCH MIN FG 3PT FT OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF +/- PTS
C. McCulloughPF 16 2-3 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 -13 5
W. ReedPF 12 5-6 0-0 0-1 2 3 5 0 0 1 0 1 +5 10
H. SimsC 21 2-6 0-0 4-4 2 2 4 0 0 2 1 1 -29 8
D. SloanPG 7 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 -15 0
S. KilpatrickSG 23 4-12 0-3 3-5 1 1 2 3 2 0 4 0 -12 11
M. BrownSG 21 3-6 0-1 5-9 0 2 2 5 1 0 2 1 -18 11
W. EllingtonSG 25 4-10 3-5 1-1 0 2 2 1 0 0 1 2 -30 12
T. YoungPF DNP-COACH’S DECISION
TEAM 37-79 5-14 26-39 14 25 39 19 7 5 18 18 105
46.8% 35.7% 66.7%

Magic

STARTERS MIN FG 3PT FT OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF +/- PTS
A. GordonPF 27 9-11 1-3 1-1 0 4 4 0 1 0 0 2 +19 20
D. DedmonC 20 6-7 0-0 3-3 1 3 4 0 0 3 3 3 +9 15
E. PaytonPG 26 4-11 0-1 3-3 1 4 5 12 2 0 1 3 +19 11
E. FournierSG 23 6-10 3-4 0-0 0 1 1 3 0 0 1 1 +16 15
V. OladipoSG 26 3-7 1-2 0-0 0 3 3 8 3 0 2 4 +19 7
BENCH MIN FG 3PT FT OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF +/- PTS
A. NicholsonPF 21 9-9 3-3 3-6 1 2 3 2 0 0 1 2 +15 24
J. SmithPF 21 7-11 0-0 0-0 0 5 5 0 0 1 0 1 +21 14
D. MarbleSF 7 2-3 0-1 0-2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 +4 4
S. NapierPG 6 2-3 2-3 0-0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 +3 6
C.J. WatsonPG 22 0-3 0-0 2-2 0 3 3 5 2 0 0 3 +15 2
B. JenningsPG 16 4-8 3-6 0-0 1 1 2 6 1 0 0 4 +12 11
M. HezonjaSG 25 4-8 1-4 1-2 1 2 3 3 2 1 2 5 +18 10
E. IlyasovaPF DNP-COACH’S DECISION
TEAM 56-91 14-27 13-19 5 30 35 40 11 5 10 29 139
61.5% 51.9% 68.4%
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