After a dramatic win in Washington by one-point with 4.3 seconds left on the buzzer, the Orlando Magic came home looking to score more than just points. After an initial lack of energy on the court, the Magic closed the game on top on Tuesday night.
The shadow of the Detroit Pistons hung over the heads of Magic fans. Detroit that is 7-12 in the regular season, has been the biggest pain in the back of the Orlando team since the 2003 playoffs elimination in the first round. It was time to bring it….
First quarter started with two…then turned into four…that turned into six that turned into the Magic getting a piece of coach Stan Van Gundy’s mind at the sidelines. After Vince Carter lost the ball and Lewis drew a foul, it was time for a pep talk. But the Pistons didn’t budge and they knocked down 9 of their first 11 shots leading the game 20-8 in the first 6 minutes.
Who are you calling a bench warmer?
Ask Mickael Pietrus who scored 13 points and J.J. Redick who had 10 points and they will tell you the bench works just fine. But even with the superstar’s help, the Magic finished the quarter behind 23-18.
Second quarter was no different. Already trailing behind by five points, a dunk over Marcin Gortat’s defense in the paint by Detroit’s Charlie Villanueva raises that number two more levels and shows the Orlando team they mean business.
Where was Howard?
Not on the court…literally. The center that only scored 9 points this game looked raw compared to his top performance and season high of 32 points in Washington. With back ups J.J. Redick, Brandon Bass and Mickael Pietrus on the court, the Magic were able to contain Detroit and edged closer on the scoreboard just to drop down with 2 minutes left and back up at the buzzer. 45-43 Pistons.
Go Magic?
Ben Wallace on a defensive rebound gets the ball rolling in the third quarter, but unfortunately for Magic fans, it was rolling the wrong way. In three minutes, Detroit went from a two-point lead to a seven-point lead.
The Magic called timed out and came back refreshed. No more it seemed. Rashard Lewis makes a 19-foot two point shot that jump-started a big comeback. With one minute left, the Magic were ahead for the first time in the game and the crowd (the few that showed up to the game) cheered. Magic dominated and closed the quarter 64-61.
Welcome to Orlando
If you paid full price for a ticket, this is where you got your money’s worth. In a battle, point after point, shot after shot, the combination of Pietrus, Lewis and Redick stopped Detroit in its tracks with 6 minutes left. With back-to-back three pointers, they rocked the Amway Center.
The lack of energy was replaced now by too much energy and legs and arms where flying everywhere on the court with defensive rebounds and missed lay ups. It didn’t matter. After scrambling, fighting and pulling, the scoreboard doesn’t lie. Magic wins 90-79 on a beautiful Tuesday night in Downtown Orlando.
“I’m not thrilled with the energy that the group is starting games with,” Van Gundy said. “I thought the best thing was the way we finished the game.”
The Magic have won eight of their past nine games and are about to begin a tough stretch with seven of their next eight on the road. They face the Chicago Bulls tonight.
Top Performers
Detroit: R. Stuckey 14 Pts, 3 Reb, 5 Ast, 3 Stl
Orlando: R. Lewis 20 Pts, 2 Reb, 1 Ast, 1 Blk
Fernanda Barros
Special for the West Orlando News Online
