Category: Orlando Magic Blog

Below are team notes on the 3-4 Orlando Magic

Orlando kicks off a four-game week tonight when they take on the Indiana Pacers at 7 p.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. On November 11, the Magic will host the Los Angeles Lakers, and on Friday, November 13, the Magic will take on the Utah Jazz at home before ending the week at the Washington Wizards Saturday (7 p.m.). All games are broadcast exclusive locally on FOX Sports Florida.

Evan Fournier is coming off a career week with the Orlando Magic. On Nov. 3, Fournier scored a career-high 30 points and hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final 1:13 of the game to lift Orlando to its first victory of the season over the New Orleans Pelicans. On Nov. 4, he had another 20+ scoring performance, adding 29 points, including two free throws with 1.1 seconds left in regulation to send the Magic to overtime against the Houston Rockets. Fournier finished the week as the leading scorer for the Magic, averaging 21.8 ppg. over the four-game stretch.

From the floor, the Magic are holding opponents to .410 (256-of-625 FG), which ranks fourth in the NBA (as of Nov. 8). In addition, Orlando is holding the opposition to shoot .292 (61-of-209) from beyond the three-point arc, which ranks sixth in the league (as of Nov.8).

The Orlando Magic are averaging 6.71 blkg. (47 blocked shots) this season, which ranks second in the NBA (as of Nov.8).

Orlando went 3-1 last week, including wins over the New Orleans Pelicans, Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers. The Magic notched their first win of the season (103-94) on Nov. 3 on the road against the Pelicans, and then took the Houston Rockets to overtime before falling, 114-119. Following a home win on Nov. 6 against the previously unbeaten Toronto Raptors (92-87), the Magic defeated Philadelphia, 105-97, at Wells Fargo Center.

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel with an update on tonight’s Magic lineup:

Dewayne Dedmon started six games during the 2013-14 season and 15 more games last season, so moving into the Orlando Magic’s starting lineup tonight against the Toronto Raptors won’t be new to him.

Still, now that a right-knee bone bruise will prevent Nik Vucevic at least from playing tonight, Dedmon wants to show how much he’s grown since he last started on April 11, 2015.

“It’s definitely an opportunity,” Dedmon said. “I definitely don’t want it to come like this, with the big fella going down. But you’ve just got to take it in stride. You hope he gets back as soon as possible, but it’s definitely an opportunity for me to showcase a little bit.”

Enjoy this video showcasing Tracy McGrady’s best highlights from his days on the Orlando Magic:

Magic paying big money to Tobias Harris

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting on a talented young Magic player who now has a lot of pressure on his shoulders to earn his much bigger salary:

Tobias Harris checks in at a svelte 235 pounds, not counting, of course, the extra weight he’s carrying.

It’s quite a load.

He’s put on an additional $64 million.

Harris and the Magic can only hope it doesn’t show this season.

A huge four-year contract has made Tobias the team’s highest-paid player, surpassing Nik Vucevic’s deal.

This is all new for Harris at 23. He says all that money won’t affect him. He says he doesn’t see himself “pressing” to try to justify the count and the amount.

“It doesn’t change me or my game. I don’t play the game just for the paycheck. I play for the love and the love of winning,” Harris told me. “When I signed my deal, the next day I was back in the gym, working just as hard. It’s no time to go out and celebrate crazy. I’m blessed enough to be in this position.

“It drives me. It just shows me if you want another one, you have to work twice as hard.”

Magic hope for big things from Aaron Gordon

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting on a key member of the Magic youth movement:

Almost two and a half months have passed since Gordon underwent surgery July 14 to repair his fractured jaw, and the bone now is almost fully healed. Although he has participated in the first four practices of Orlando Magic training camp, he has been forced to sit out full-contact drills and team scrimmages….

The Magic are counting on Gordon, a combo forward, to play a major role in the year ahead. At 6 feet 9 and 220 pounds, and blessed with smarts, elite jumping ability and superb quickness, Gordon arguably has more potential on the defensive end of the court than anyone else on the roster. Skiles envisions Gordon as someone who can guard opponents at four different positions, even point guards.

The team expects Gordon to be cleared for full contact at some point in mid-October — perhaps before the team’s Oct. 17 exhibition in Rio de Janeiro against the Brazilian team Flamengo. Still, even if Gordon plays against Flamengo, there would be little time left before Orlando’s regular-season opener on Oct. 28. Therein lies the concern.

None of this would be a worry if Gordon, now 20, hadn’t been goofing off after the Orlando Pro Summer League with his 25-year-old brother, Drew, who played a bit last season for the Philadelphia 76ers.