Orlando Magic Blog – Page 23 – NBA Blog

Magic sign Keith Appling to second 10-day contract

The Orlando Magic have signed guard Keith Appling to a second 10-day contract, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today. His first 10-day contract was signed on January 18.

Appling (#15, 6’1”, 185, 2/13/92) has appeared in two games for the Magic averaging 3.0 ppg. in 7.5 minpg. Prior to joining the Magic with his first 10-day contract, he played in 17 games this season with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League, averaging 16.8 ppg., 5.6 apg., 4.1 rpg. and 2.12 stlpg. in 31.3 minpg. He was leading the BayHawks in scoring, assists and steals at the time of his call-up. Appling appeared in five preseason games with Orlando, averaging 1.2 ppg. in 8.7 minpg., before being waived on October 19.

Orlando plays at Boston tonight (Friday, January 29). Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

Magic sign Keith Appling to 10-day contract

The Orlando Magic have called-up guard Keith Appling from the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League and signed him to a 10-day contract, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today. In addition, guard Devyn Marble has been recalled from Erie.

Appling (#15, 6’1”, 185, 2/13/92) has played in 17 games this season with Erie, averaging 16.8 ppg., 5.6 apg., 4.1 rpg. and 2.12 stlpg. in 31.3 minpg. He was leading the BayHawks in scoring, assists and steals at the time of his call-up. Appling appeared in five preseason games with Orlando, averaging 1.2 ppg. in 8.7 minpg., before being waived on October 19.

Not drafted by an NBA franchise in 2014, Appling appeared in 38 games last season with both the Los Angeles D-Fenders and Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League, averaging 10.5 ppg., 3.9 apg. and 2.7 rpg. in 24.4 minpg. He also played with the Orlando Magic “White” team during the 2015 Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League, averaging a team-high 15.6 ppg., 3.0 apg., 1.2 rpg. and 3.00 stlpg. in 26.2 minpg.

Appling played in 142 games (123 starts) during four seasons at Michigan State University from 2010-14, averaging 10.6 ppg., 3.3 apg., 3.0 rpg. and 1.06 stlpg. in 29.8 minpg. He finished his collegiate career tied for third on the Spartans’ all-time list in games started, fourth in games played, seventh in free throws made (389), eighth in three-point field goals attempted (413) and steals (151), ninth in assists (465), tenth in free throws attempted (520) and 18th in points scored (1,509). Appling was named Second Team All-Big Ten as a junior (2012-13) by the league’s coaches and named Third Team All-Big Ten as a sophomore (2011-12). He helped Michigan State reach the Sweet Sixteen three times during the NCAA Tournament (2012-14) and the Elite Eight in 2014.

Marble (#11, 6’6”, 200, 9/21/92) has appeared in six games this season with Orlando, averaging 0.3 ppg. in 2.3 minpg. Originally selected in the second round (56th overall) by Denver, his draft rights, along with Evan Fournier, were acquired by Orlando in exchange for Arron Afflalo on June 26, 2014. Marble has also played in 14 games this season with Erie, averaging 14.8 ppg., 5.2 rpg., 2.2 apg. and 1.57 stlpg. in 30.9 minpg.

The Orlando Magic and the Erie BayHawks are in the second year of a three-year single affiliation partnership. Orlando became the 16th NBA team to have a one-to-one affiliation with an NBA D-League team. The partnership, also referred to as a “hybrid affiliation,” allows an NBA team to control the NBA D-League team’s basketball operations, while the existing local ownership maintains primary responsibility for the team’s off-the-court business operations and community initiatives.

Raptors beat Magic in London

Thursday in London, the Toronto Raptors beat the Orlando Magic 106-103 in overtime. In the win, Kyle Lowry scored 24 (on just 5-20 shooting), and had eight rebounds and seven assists. Cory Joseph was great off the bench, shooting 9-of-11 for 19 points. In the loss, Victor Oladipo scored 27, and Evan Fournier had 21. Here’s the Toronto Sun reporting:

A visit to the O2 just wouldn’t be right without overtime.

For the second time in three games here, the Raps found themselves providing a deserving English fan base a little more than they were actually entitled.

The last time it took triple overtime and it resulted in a loss to the then New Jersey Nets.

But this is a different Raptors team, a “relevant” team as Masai Ujiri likes to call them, and they proved their GM right with a professional overtime period that included timely shooting, some patient offence and some determined defence to pull out a 106-103 win over the Magic on Thursday.

The Magic had a match for the Kyle Lowry/DeMar DeRozan backcourt but they didn’t have the bench support or the defence the Raptors brought with them across the Atlantic.

And by the slimmest of margins, the Raptors will head back across that ocean with a well-deserved win.

Cavs trade Joe Harris to Magic

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired the Portland Trail Blazers’ protected 2020 second round pick from the Orlando Magic in exchange for guard Joe Harris, the Sacramento Kings’ 2017 protected second round pick, owned by the Cavaliers, and cash, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced today.

This season, Harris appeared in five games for the Cavs and 10 games for the Canton Charge.

He was originally selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round (33rd overall pick) of the 2014 NBA Draft.

Today, Harris underwent successful surgery in Indianapolis on his right foot for excision of 5th metatarsal apophysis.

The Cavs roster now stands at 14.

Orlando Magic weekly notes: Jan. 4, 2016

The Orlando Magic will begin a four-game week tonight, which will feature games against the Detroit Pistons (Monday, Jan. 4) and Brooklyn Nets (Friday, Jan. 8) on the road, while they face the Indiana Pacers (Wednesday, Jan. 6) and Washington Wizards (Saturday, Jan. 9) at home.

The Orlando Magic’s Scott Skiles was named the NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for games played in December. Skiles guided the Magic to a 10-5 (.667) overall record and a 5-2 road record (.714), both tops in the Eastern Conference. This is the sixth time an Orlando Magic head coach has been awarded the honor and the first time since April 2010, while it also marked the fourth time Skiles has won the award (previously: January 2005, April 2006 and February 2010).

Orlando went 2-2 last week, including home wins over the New Orleans Pelicans (104-89) and the Brooklyn Nets (100-93). The Magic concluded the week with losses at the Washington Wizards (91-103) and Cleveland Cavaliers (79-104). Orlando has an overall record of 19-15.

The Orlando Magic are allowing 98.7 ppg. (3,356 points) this season, which ranks sixth in the NBA (as of Jan. 3).

Nikola Vucevic averaged 19.4 ppg., 9.0 rpg. and 3.5 apg. during the month of December (291 pts., 135 rebs., 52 asts., 15 games). The only other player in Orlando Magic history to average 17+ ppg., 9+ rpg. and 3+ apg. during any calendar month is Shaquille O’Neal, who did it four times, the last in March 1995.

In the month of December, the Magic went an Eastern Conference-best 10-5, marking the team’s first 10-win month since February 2012. Orlando also recorded its second consecutive month over .500, which is the first time since February/March 2012 that the Magic have recorded back-to-back winning months. For games played in December, Orlando ranked first in the Eastern Conference in field goal percentage and steals, and second in opponents points per game and point differential.

Since Nov. 25, the Magic have a 13-7 record. That is the best record in the Eastern Conference and fifth-best in the entire NBA during that span (trailing only Golden State, San Antonio, Oklahoma City and the L.A. Clippers).

Scott Skiles, Gregg Popovich named NBA Coaches of Month for December

The Orlando Magic’s Scott Skiles and the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in December.

Skiles led the Magic to the East’s best month at 10-5 (.667). Orlando went 5-3 at home and 5-2 on the road. On the defensive end, the Magic held opponents to 96.6 points in December, the fourth-stingiest mark in the NBA. On the offensive end, Orlando shot 48.1 percent as a team in December, third-best in the league and tops in the Eastern Conference.

Popovich guided the Spurs to the league’s best record in December at 14-2 (.875). San Antonio went 10-0 at home, and at the end of December owned a 19-0 mark at AT&T Center. The Spurs, who surrendered 100-plus points in only two of 16 December games, held opponents to a league-low 87.1 points – a mark more than six points better than that of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who ranked second at 93.2 points allowed.

Other nominees for Coach of the Month were Atlanta’s Mike Budenholzer, Cleveland’s David Blatt, Detroit’s Stan Van Gundy, Golden State’s Luke Walton, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Doc Rivers, Oklahoma City’s Billy Donovan and Toronto’s Dwane Casey.

Thankfully, Victor Oladipo avoids injury

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel with good news on Magic guard Victor Oladipo, who is averaging 14.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game this season:

Victor Oladipo knee injury appears minor

From the Orlando Magic’s perspective, the only saving grace to the knee-to-knee collision between Victor Oladipo and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Jamal Crawford late in the Magic’s 103-101 loss Saturday night is it appears Oladipo avoided a significant injury.

Oladipo returned to the game about three and a half minutes after Crawford’s right knee banged into his left knee. After the game ended, Oladipo walked out of the Staples Center without crutches or even a sleeve around his knee.

“When he kneed me, it hurt so bad,” Oladipo said. “I don’t know what’s going on, really, honestly [with my knee]. But I’m feeling a lot better now. But it hurt really bad.”

Magic rookie Mario Hezonja still learning the ropes

The Orlando Magic are 6-7 this season, and getting double-digit scoring from Evan Fournier, Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris, Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton. Rookie shooting guard Mario Hezonja is playing just 14.5 minutes per game, good for 4.8 ppg. Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting:

Hezonja has shown tantalizing glimpses of the potential that prompted the Magic to select him fifth overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, but his rookie mistakes on the defensive end and a logjam of other talented wing players are reducing his playing time. Coaches review tape with Hezonja almost daily in an attempt to cut down on his errors.

By all accounts, Hezonja, a 6-foot-8 swingman, has been an eager student.

“It’s a team sport, so I’m looking forward to help the team the best that I can and, of course, [I’m] individually looking to improve because I’m here to play,” he said after he played almost 17 minutes in the Magic’s 97-91 loss Saturday night to the Sacramento Kings.

Victor Oladipo should return soon for Magic

The Orlando Magic are 5-6 through Monday’s games and awaiting the return of Victor Oladipo (14.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.9 apg this season). Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting the latest:

Magic coach Scott Skiles said there is a chance that SG Victor Oladipo could play against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night if he clears the NBA’s concussion protocol.

Oladipo was injured when he ran into center Dewayne Dedmon during the Magic’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers last Wednesday night at Amway Center.

Skiles said Oladipo participated in the Magic’s non-contact practice on Tuesday.

“Vic went through the practice today. He did no contact. We had a no-contact practice anyway,” Skiles said. “And so now he’ll be evaluated again. He did the bike work. He did other exercises. So they build the person up and they give tests again either (Tuesday) or (Wednesday) I think and depending on how that goes, that will determine whether he plays or not.

“He got through all of it and looked pretty good. And now it will all be up to the tests.”

Hedo Turkoglu has retired from NBA

Forward Hedo Turkoglu, who played 15 seasons in the NBA and eight with the Orlando Magic, has announced his retirement yesterday. Turkoglu will be honored and recognized by the Magic during a special ceremony on Friday, December 18, when Orlando hosts Portland at Amway Center (7 p.m. start).

“I am very thankful and grateful for the opportunity to live out my dream and play in the NBA,” said Turkoglu. “I will always remember my teammates, coaches, staff members and all of the fans who made my career so wonderful for myself and my family.”

Turkoglu played in 497 regular season games (412 starts) with Orlando from 2004-09 and 2010-13, averaging 14.5 ppg., 4.5 rpg. and 3.9 apg. in 32.7 minpg., while shooting .379 (794-2,005) from three-point range and .805 (1,402-1,741) from the free throw line. He also appeared and started in 49 playoff games with the Magic, averaging 14.4 ppg., 4.5 rpg. and 4.5 apg. in 38.0 minpg.

Turkoglu earned the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 2007-08 and helped Orlando reach the 2009 NBA Finals. He ranks on the Magic’s all-time list in nearly every statistical category, including minutes played (fourth, 16,233), three-point field goals made (fourth, 794), points scored (sixth, 7,216), games played (sixth, 497), free throws made (sixth, 1,402), rebounds (2,221) and assists (sixth, 1,927).

Originally selected by Sacramento in the first round (16th overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft, Turkoglu appeared in 997 regular season games (571 starts) during his 15-year NBA career with Sacramento, San Antonio, Orlando, Toronto, Phoenix and the L.A. Clippers, averaging 11.1 ppg., 4.0 rpg. and 2.8 apg. in 26.8 minpg., while shooting .384 (1,246-3,246) from three-point range. He has also appeared in 109 career playoff outings (72 starts), averaging 9.7 ppg., 3.8 rpg. and 2.6 apg. in 27.4 minpg.