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Hornets @ Magic Thread; 12/20, 7:00 PM, Amway Arena
Topic Started: Dec 17 2006, 10:49 PM (2,967 Views)
MAGICMANEVAN
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New Orleans/OKC (10-13) at Orlando (16-10)
Hornets- 4th Southwest, 13th West
Magic- 1st Southeast, 2nd East

What: Regular Season Game #27
Where: Amway Arena
When: December 20, 7:00 PM
Broadcast: TV -- MY 65, Radio -- WDBO


The Orlando Magic are getting healthy, and will look to build off a sorely needed victory when they host the short-handed New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday.

The Southeast Division-leading Magic (16-10) overcame a 13-point deficit to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 81-74 on Saturday and snap a season-high three-game losing streak.

It was just their third win in nine games following a 13-4 start to the season, and it came against a fellow division leader.

"There are certain games in a season where you can feel the momentum swing for your team and I'm hoping this is one of those for us," Orlando coach Brian Hill said. "We beat a first-place team with a couple of our key guys injured and that's got to give the rest of the team a lot of confidence."

Orlando's confidence could grow as it expects starters Jameer Nelson and Hedo Turkoglu back in the lineup Wednesday. Nelson, who is averaging 12.8 points and 4.0 assists, has missed the last three games with a pulled groin and Turkoglu has missed the last five with a sprained ankle.

Grant Hill scored 21 points Saturday in his return after missing the Magic's previous game with knee tendinitis. Orlando is 5-1 when he scores at least 18 points.

"We've got a reason to feel good about ourselves after this one," Hill said. "We didn't do everything right, but we did win and that's going to change everyone's mood for sure."

Dwight Howard, though, again struggled to score as he was held to 14 points. He's averaged 11.3 points over the past four games, seeing his team-leading average drop to 17.1 per game. However, Howard did grab 16 rebounds and match a season high with five blocks on Saturday, and his 12.7 boards per game leads the NBA.

New Orleans (10-13) will again be without two of its key starters as it looks to avoid a fourth straight loss on the road and overall.

Guard Peja Stojakovic, who is averaging 17.8 points but has not played since Nov. 24, had lower back surgery on Sunday. David West has not played since averaging 17.4 points through the first seven games of the season, and will undergo elbow surgery Wednesday. Their return dates are uncertain.

"Our main concern was to get Peja and David healthy again," Hornets general manager Jeff Bower told the team's official Web site. "After a series of evaluations, our medical staff determined that surgery was the best option for both of them."

With injuries posing a problem, the Hornets have lost 10 of 12 since starting the season 8-3.

On Tuesday, they blew a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost 101-99 to Miami on Dwyane Wade's fadeaway jumper with 1.3 seconds left.

The Hornets, the NBA's lowest scoring team at 90.9 points per game, were outscored 13-2 down the stretch against the Heat.

"We were not as aggressive in the second half as we were in the first half," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "We choked. We got scared. We were hiding. It showed."

Chris Paul, who had 26 points against Miami, scored 21 and had eight assists in a 98-95 win at Orlando in the teams' last meeting on Nov. 19, 2005. New Orleans had lost the previous three meetings.


Orlando Notes

Dec 17 With five blocked shots in the game, C Dwight Howard now has 301 for his young career. ... The Magic are now 12-4 when their reserves outscore the opponent's bench. ... Orlando has held the opposition to 90 or less points 11 times this season and improved to 10-1 in those contests.. ... Howard leads the NBA in rebounding averaging 12.6 boards per game coming into the contest. ... The Magic came from 13 points down to win, marking their largest comeback victory of the season. ... G J.J. Redick completed the Magic's first four-point play in over two years.

--------------
Ill be at the game! :yes: 8-)
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gomagic33
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Mr. Anderson
Both teams are plagued by injuries - the Hornets have it worst though. This is another game we "should" win, but it will again depend on which Magic team will show up.

I hope Diener is given a chance to start with Arroyo coming off the bench.
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magiclive
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isnt jameer supposed to be back for this game? i think turk is supposed to be back too.
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gomagic33
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magiclive
Dec. 18 2006 12:28 AM
isnt jameer supposed to be back for this game? i think turk is supposed to be back too.

I think both of them are on day-to-day, they are expected to play, but you never know if they actually will.
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magiclive
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any news on bogans?
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Jax Magic
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magiclive
Dec. 18 2006 12:28 AM
isnt jameer supposed to be back for this game? i think turk is supposed to be back too.

I have read that both will be back for this game. I have not heard anything about Bogans though.
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MAGICMANEVAN
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Jax Magic
Dec. 18 2006 01:46 AM
I have read that both will be back for this game. I have not heard anything about Bogans though.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/bask...?coll=orl-magic
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Nelson, Turkoglu, Bogans eager to return

Jameer Nelson (groin), Hedo Turkoglu (right ankle sprain) and Keith Bogans (right ankle sprain) all watched the game Saturday in street clothes, but all said they could be back on the court when the Magic play Wednesday against the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets.

"I don't want to sit much longer," Turkoglu said.

Nelson, the starting point guard, has missed the past three games, but he worked out lightly Saturday. "I'm using the time as a learning experience," Nelson said. "Sitting on the side, you can see things watching, learn things, that you don't always see when you're out there playing."
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Punisher
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Pure domination
Most win game for the magic. Go Magic!
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magiclive
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We have to get back on track. Last game showed some signs that we are back to our normal selves, but you never know. This is a young team and they lack consistancy so far this season. We should beat the Hornets, who aren't playing well right now and are missing Peja.
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TheFalcon
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magiclive
Dec. 18 2006 04:48 PM
We should beat the Hornets, who aren't playing well right now and are missing Peja.

That's the same thing we said about the Raptors. ;)
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magiclive
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TheFalcon
Dec. 18 2006 05:52 PM
That's the same thing we said about the Raptors. ;)

...and the Bobcats, lol.
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gomagic33
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Mr. Anderson
They are not only missing Peja, David West is also injured.

If we lose this one I will go berserk.
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gomagic33
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Wow. The Hornets are putting up a fight at Miami. They are up 9 at halftime. CP is one heck of a player.
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magiclive
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damn. the heat got lucky and won tonight.
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gomagic33
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magiclive
Dec. 18 2006 10:45 PM
damn. the heat got lucky and won tonight.

:no: I was really pulling for the Hornets to win that one.

Now I am pulling for Denver to beat the Wiz.

EDIT: Yes! Wiz will lose this one against Denver. :yes:
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