Wizards look to bounce back verse Magic
1-12 Magic (12-30) at Wizards (23-18)
TV: NBC Sports Washington
Last game for Magic: 110-103 loss at Milwaukee
- Evan Fournier-21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
- Bismack Biyombo-14 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists
- Marresse Speights-14 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Last game for Washington: 107-104 loss vs Utah
- John Wall-35 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds
- Bradley Beal-23 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds
- Otto Porter Jr.-14 points, 6 rebounds
Projected Orlando starters-Gordon PF, Fournier SF, Simmons SF, Biyombo C, Payton PG
Projected Washington starters-Morris PF, Porter SF, Gortat C, Wall PG, Beal SG
Orlando preview-The Magic, losers of six straight and 15 in their last 16 games, come into D.C. with the second worst record in the Eastern Conference, and their play against Milwaukee on Wednesday showed it, as they shot only 43 percent from the field, while allowing the Bucks to shoot nearly 56 percent from the field. Another glaring issue for Orlando, was being outrebounded 56-41. The Magic in the 2nd and 3rd quarters shot a combined 32 percent from the field. Aaron Gordon, who leads the team in scoring (18.9 ppg), shot a dismal 4-18 from the field, and was 0-5 from 3-point range. Orlando will not have center Nikola Vucevic, who is out 6-8 weeks after fracturing his left metacarpal on his left hand against the Wizards on December 23. Vucevic was averaging 17 points and 9 rebounds this season before the injury.
Washington preview-Despite big games from Beal and Wall, the Wizards were sloppy with the basketball, as they committed 23 turnovers in a bad loss to Utah. The third quarter was Washington’s downfall, as the Jazz outscored the Wizards, 37-27, and 14 of those points were from nine Wizards turnovers. Washington’s bench was outscored by Utah, 35-16. At the halfway mark, the Wizards are 5th in the Eastern Conference at 23-18. Washington beat Orlando 130-103, in which seven Wizards scored in double figures. In the last five games, Wall is averaging 24 points and 11 assists per game. Washington will have little time to rest after this game, as the next night they are home against the Brooklyn Nets.
