Wizards look to start winning streak vs Magic
2-3 Wizards (29-22) at Magic (15-35)
TV: 7pm NBC Sports Washington
Last game for Washington: 122-119 win vs Toronto
- Bradley Beal-27 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists
- Otto Porter Jr.-16 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists
- Markieff Morris-15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
Last game for Orlando: 127-105 win vs LA Lakers
- Marreese Speights-21 points, 4 rebounds
- Evan Fournier-19 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds
- Elfrid Payton-15 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists
Projected Wizards starters-Morris PF, Satoransky SF, Porter Jr. SF, Gortat C, Beal SG
Projected Magic starters-Speights PF, Simmons SF, Fournier SF, Biyombo C, Payton SG
Washington preview-Washington’s starting five all scored in double figures, led by Beal, who scored 25 points in the second half. Washington’s bench outscored Toronto’s bench, 44-23, and three of the players (Mike Scott, Jodie Meeks and Ian Mahinmi) all scored in double figures. The Wizards have now won all three games they have played, since John Wall went down with a knee injury. Washington now starts a stretch, in which they play 6 of their next 7 games on the road. Washington won both of there previous meetings against Orlando, although both of them were in D.C.
Orlando preview-The Magic ended there three game losing streak, by blowing out the Lakers, highlighted by a 43 point outburst in the third quarter, and shot 56 percent from 3-point territory. Aaron Gordon, who has missed the past two games with a strained left hip flexor, will be a game time decision. Orlando is 2-9 without Gordon. Not to mention, the Magic will not have center Nikola Vucevic, who is out with a fractured left hand. If the Magic were to win, expect it from guard Elfrid Payton. Payton, who will have Beal defending him, is averaging nearly 29 points a game, including a ridiculous 71.4% from the floor, and is dishing 9 assists while scooping up 5 rebounds per game. Also, Washington needs to watch out for shooting forward Jonathan Simmons, who is averaging nearly 19 points in the two games they have played.
