Orlando Magic Blog – Page 75 – NBA Blog

Bucks trade Tyronn Lue to Magic for Keith Bogans

The Orlando Magic have acquired guard Tyronn Lue from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for guard-forward Keith Bogans and cash considerations, General Manager Otis Smith announced today.

“Tyronn is a veteran point guard who fits in well with our style of play,” said Smith. “He shoots well from three-point range and adds needed depth at that position. We thank Keith for everything he gave to us and wish him all the best.”

Lue (6’0”, 175, 5/3/77) has played in 30 games this season for Milwaukee, averaging 4.7 ppg., 1.5 apg. and 1.2 rpg. in 13.1 minpg. He is shooting .467 (21-of-45) from three-point range and has scored in double figures three times, including a season-high 14 points on Nov. 24 @ Orlando. Lue led (or tied) the Bucks in assists three times.

Lue returns for a second stint with Orlando. He played in 76 games (69 starts) for the Magic in 2003-04, averaging 10.5 ppg., 4.2 apg. and 2.5 rpg. in 30.7 minpg. Lue was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers when they won back-to-back NBA Championships in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

Lue was originally selected in the first round (23rd overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft by Denver. He has appeared in 540 career NBA regular season games with eight different teams (the L.A. Lakers, Washington, Orlando, Houston, Atlanta, Sacramento, Dallas and Milwaukee), averaging 8.6 ppg., 3.2 apg. and 1.7 rpg. in 23.0 minpg. Lue has also shot .392 (454-of-1,158) from beyond the three-point arc during his career.

Bogans, 28, has appeared in 35 games this season for the Orlando Magic and averaged 5.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 22.3 minutes per game. Last season, Bogans played in all 82 games for the Magic and tallied 8.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 26.8 minutes. He shot a career-high 41.1 percent from the field, including 36.2 percent from the three-point arc, connecting on a career-high 148-of-409 attempts. Bogans appeared in all 10 of Orlando’s post-season contests in 2008 and averaged 7.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 29.3 minutes.

Originally drafted by Milwaukee in the second round of the 2003 NBA Draft (43rd overall), Bogans was traded to Orlando on draft night for cash considerations. His resume spans five-plus NBA seasons and includes time spent with Orlando, Charlotte and Houston. In 395 career games, he has averaged 7.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Melo scores 32, Nuggets beat Thunder 114-113

The AP reports: For the second time in two trips to Oklahoma City, Carmelo Anthony made the winning shot, this time a driving runner in the lane with 5.3 seconds left that gave the Nuggets a 114-113 victory Wednesday night… Anthony finished with 32 points and also had 11 assists… Kevin Durant finished with 31 points and eight rebounds. J.R. Smith had 22 points, Nene had 20 and Chris Andersen finished with 12 to help the Nuggets improve to 32-16. The Thunder got 24 points from Jeff Green and 20 from Russell Westbrook, but dropped their third game in a row.

Anthony Johnson steps up, Magic beat Clippers 125-96

The AP reports: Starting for the first time since All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson was injured, Anthony Johnson wanted to set a high standard. He may have set it too high. Johnson had a season-best 25 points in place of Nelson, and the Orlando Magic routed the Los Angeles Clippers 125-96 on Wednesday night. Johnson was quick to point out he won’t score big every game, especially against tougher competition… Al Thornton had 27 points, and Eric Gordon added 14 for the Clippers, losers of seven straight and 21 of their last 23 games. They could do little to stop Johnson, who nearly matched his regular-season career high of 27 points against Washington on Jan. 18, 2006, when he was with Indiana.

Jameer Nelson health update

Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson underwent an MRI on Tuesday morning, which revealed a torn right labrum.

Nelson dislocated his right shoulder with 9:11 remaining during the third quarter of the Magic’s loss vs. Dallas on February 2. The course of treatment for the injury will be determined during the next week. At that point, his playing status will be evaluated.

The information above is from 12:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 3.

Nowitzki scores 29, Mavericks beat Magic 105-95

The AP reports: The Dallas Mavericks are slowly creeping back up the Western Conference standings. Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and six rebounds, Jason Terry had 23 points and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Orlando Magic 105-95 Monday night for their third straight win… Josh Howard and Jason Kidd added 13 apiece for the Mavericks, who held Orlando to 3-for-20 shooting from 3-point range. Dwight Howard had 35 points and 11 rebounds, and Hedo Turkoglu scored 18 as the Magic ended their three-game winning streak. But that wasn’t the worst news of the night for Orlando.

Jameer Nelson dislocates right shoulder

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Magic all-star point guard Jameer Nelson dislocated his right shoulder playing against the Dallas Mavs on Monday night. Nelson left the game with nine minutes, 11 seconds left in the third period, either fell or ran into Mavs center Erick Dampier. He ran off the floor in a bent-over fashion after appearing to injure his right shoulder.

2009 All-Star Skills Challenge participants

A new PlayStation Skills Challenge champion will be crowned as the New Jersey Nets’ Devin Harris, the Orlando Magic’s Jameer Nelson, the San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker and the Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose will take the floor on Feb. 14, as part of NBA All-Star Saturday Night at US Airways Center in Phoenix.

My initial prediction is that Jameer Nelson will win it.

Why? Because he has the most to prove.

This is the season that Nelson put himself on the map. He has faced years of doubt and was often considered to be more suitable as a backup than a starter.

Devin Harris is having a breakout season too. But he hasn’t faced years orf criticism and doubt like Nelson has.

Rose and Parker can win it, too. If they want.

Anyone can take it. But even though it’s a minor event I bet Nelson wants it the most.

Howard’s 29 lift Magic to 113-90 win over Raptors

The AP reports: For once, Chris Bosh had a bad game against the Orlando Magic. Dwight Howard had 29 points and 14 rebounds, Jameer Nelson added 18 points and 10 assists, and the Magic never trailed in a 113-90 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. Mickael Pietrus scored 22 points and Rashard Lewis had 15 for the Magic, who led by as many as 25 and have won three straight following back-to-back losses to Boston and Miami… Nelson had eight rebounds, falling just shy of the first triple-double of his career… Jose Calderon scored 16 points for Toronto, reserve Joey Graham had 14 and Andrea Bargnani had 12.

Teammates call Mo Williams an All-Star

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Mo Williams is having a great season, but wasn’t named an NBA All-Star reserve.

Shooting 46.7% from the field, Williams is averaging 17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson, who did make the All-Star team, is shooting better than Mo Williams, getting more steals and dishing more assists.

Still, it’s somewhat close. And Mo’s teammates are outraged. The Cleveland Plain Dealer (Mary Schmitt Boyer) reports:

“It’s a tragedy,” Ben Wallace said. “I think it’s an injustice. It’s a fraud. We’ve got the best record in the league, and we’ve only got one guy going. You always make it the next year, after the year you were supposed to make it. It’s a travesty and a sham and a mockery. It’s a shamockery.” Said LeBron James: “It just shows the disrespect that basketball in Cleveland continues to get. I haven’t seen the All-Star list yet, so I can’t comment on who’s in it. But it’s definitely disrespectful that we continue to do work every year with nothing to show for it. They always say when you win, individual accolades will take care of itself. But sometimes it doesn’t happen.

I like that. A sham, and a mockery. A shamockery. I’m going to go outside now and start yelling those words at random strangers on the street here in NYC, while waving my arms around wildly. But not tell them what I’m actually outraged about. This has nothing to do with Mo or Jameer. It just sounds fun.

Magic beat Cavs 99-88

The AP reports: The Orlando Magic are looking more and more like a contender in the Eastern Conference. Dwight Howard had 22 points and 18 rebounds, Hedo Turkoglu added 19 points and 11 rebounds, and the Magic took advantage of LeBron James’ shooting struggles to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-88 on Thursday night… Orlando finished 11-of-31 from 3-point range—most of them open shots because Cleveland double- and triple-teamed Howard down low… Mo Williams, trying to prove he belonged in the All-Star game over Nelson, was 4-of-15 shooting and finished with 12 points. Wally Szczerbiak scored 14 points in his first 7 minutes on the floor, but he didn’t get another bucket the rest of the way.