This isn’t the same Orlando Magic team it was this time last year, however that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
JJ Redick’s 24 points off the bench lead the Magic to a 115-94 win over the visiting Phoenix Suns.
“There are no All-Stars on this team,” Glen David said. “We all know there is no go to guy, we all need to step up and make a play.”
Down 13 in the second half, the Magic scored 40 points in the third quarter to build a 10 point lead.
“I think we’re struggling somewhat to have consistency offensively,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “We had our moments. … But we’re a work in progress and we continue to work and try to get better and we’ll see what happens.”
New comer Arron Affalo got into a scuffle with Houston forward Luis Scola while trying to trap Affalo in the corner in the second half.
It was a mix of the scrappy play from the Magic and the Suns frustration.
“I just wanna win. These guys know that, and I’m willing to get chippy in the process,” Affalo said post game.
Orlando shot 9 for 11 from beyond the arc (81%) and held the Suns to 26%.
“We looked lax out there in the first half but I liked our effort in the third quarter when we turned things around,” JJ Redick said.
The Magic 2-0 will travel and play the Chicago Bulls Tuesday, tip off set for 8pm.
