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News » Bobcats-Magic Preview


Bobcats-Magic Preview


Bobcats-Magic Preview
Back at Amway Arena following the All-Star break, Orlando can't wait to return to the court Tuesday night. Neither can the surprising Charlotte Bobcats.

The Southeast Division-leading Magic look to rebound from one of their worst performances of the season as they face a Bobcats club eyeing a playoff run.

Orlando (38-13), winner of six straight at home against Charlotte, has had nearly a week to think about last Wednesday's 82-73 home loss to Denver. The Magic are in the top 10 in the league in scoring at 102.2 points per game, but recorded their lowest point total since an 84-73 defeat to Detroit on Feb. 10, 2006.

Orlando's starters shot 28.6 percent from the field, and the Magic made a season-worst 30.4 percent.

"We got absolutely dominated," said coach Stan Van Gundy, whose team is 4-3 at home since winning 11 in a row there from Nov. 24-Jan. 9. "Not one guy had a decent night offensively. Our starters, every single guy had three turnovers. We couldn't even keep from getting the ball taken out of our hands.

"It was an embarrassing night for our players, for me, for everybody."

All-Star center Dwight Howard posted his 41st double-double of the season with 16 points and 15 rebounds, but committed six of the Magic's season-high 24 turnovers.

Howard also had problems in Orlando's first meeting of the season with Charlotte on Nov. 16, a 90-85 Magic road win. He had his string of 15 straight double-doubles against the Bobcats snapped, managing a season-low four points and seven boards.

Howard, though, is averaging 19.9 points and 16.3 rebounds in eight career home games versus Charlotte.

Forward Rashard Lewis has also thrived against the Bobcats, averaging 19.7 points and 6.1 boards in 11 matchups. He's struggled in his last seven games overall, however, averaging 13.6 points and 36.4 percent shooting.

Lewis is scoring 18.5 points per game and shooting 44.2 percent on the season.

"It was a bad game," Lewis said after scoring 12 points on 4-of-13 from the floor against Denver. "We got to take these couple days off and come in Monday and refocus."

Charlotte (21-31) is 3 1/2 games out of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot and will look for its third win in a row Tuesday. The Bobcats defeated Washington 101-89 last Wednesday, as D.J. Augustin had 24 points to lead five Charlotte starters in double figures.

New Bobcat Vladimir Radmanovic went 5-of-10 from 3-point range and had a season-high 21 points. He's averaging 17.0 points and shooting 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from beyond the arc in two games since being acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 7.

"I'm still far away from knowing what we're running, but I'm just trying to find open spots," said Radmanovic, who hit five 3s and scored 15 points for the Lakers in a 109-103 loss to Orlando on Jan.16.

While Radmanovic has given the Bobcats a new outside threat, guard Raja Bell and forward Gerald Wallace could put even more pressure on opposing defenses when they return.

Bell, averaging 13.6 points on the season, has missed the last three games with a strained right groin, but is jogging and could be available Tuesday.

Wallace, like Bell, is questionable for the Orlando contest after being sidelined the past seven games with a partially collapsed lung and broken rib. He's averaging 16.4 points and 7.4 rebounds in 2008-09.

The Bobcats' only win in Orlando was 108-94 on March 24, 2005. They're 1-7 all-time in road games against the Magic.


Author: Fox Sports
Author's Website: http://www.foxsports.com
Added: February 16, 2009

 

 
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