Magic end two-match losing streak by overcoming Timberwolves 108-99
After two losses in a row, the Orlando Magic were desperate to return to winning ways, as they visited the twin cities.
However, Kevin Love and the Minnesota Timberwolves stood in their way. At the Target Centre on Saturday night, Wolves gave the Magic a run for their money. Trailing by as many as 15 before half time, the men from the South Beach
looked down and out. The tenacious Magic though, stuck to their task and dug deep to carve out a ferocious third quarter surge that finally led to a hard fought win 108-99.
Jason Richardson continued his excellent form since embracing the Orlando ranks, scoring 21 points while J.J. Reddick came off the bench to fetch another 21. Dwight Howard posted 16 points, but the ‘daily double’ narrowly missed
a double-double with nine boards. However, the night belonged to Ryan Anderson. The reserve forward not only scored his second double-double of the season, adding 15 points and 11 rebounds, but was pivotal in fending off the phenomenal Kevin Love.
Love who leads the NBA with 36 double-doubles and has had six 20-20 games so far this year, was in his grove early on Saturday night. He pounded six boards in the first four minutes of play, and boosted the Wolves to a scorching
start that helped them take a 15-point lead late in the first period.
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, who was quite wary of the threat posed by Love going into the match, made an inspired change at that moment. He made a savvy substitution by inserting Anderson, who is commonly utilised in the floor-spreading
role, at the power forward slot to draw Love away from the basket.
The move worked wonders as it got Love out of his comfort zone. Although he finally got his double-double on a tip-in with seven minutes to play, Anderson made sure that he had to sweat for his every point and rebound. Anderson
also drilled three crucial triple pointers, and helped Orlando restrict NBA's best rebounder to nine rebounds over the final 44 minutes, and only two on the offensive glass for the game.
Corey Brewer had a season best 23 points and a staggering five steals, while Kevin Love was limited to 11 points and 15 rebounds as Wolves narrowly failed to win back-to-back games.
The teams maintained parity in the opening few minutes of the game, neither willing to give away the initial advantage. Orlando however, were finding it hard to connect their shots, which ensured that the home team never trailed
in that passage.
Soon the Wolves went all out, reeling off a 13-point unanswered run to really turn on the heat. The Magic responded immediately with a 6-0 run, but the Wolves had their noses in front as they headed into the second half with
a 29-20 advantage.
The Magic however, were spurred on coming into the second frame. J.J. Reddick made a three-point play and Anderson drilled one from downtown to follow it, as the Magic closed in to within five points. They continued to mount
immense pressure on the Wolves’ defence, and a driving lay-up from Jameer Nelson with five and a half minutes to go, brought them to 38 apiece.
Their onslaught didn’t stop there and Anderson finally put them ahead for the very first time in the match with another three-pointer. The Wolves however, rallied back with a vociferous 15-5 surge which was packed with three-pointers
and jumpers, to go into half time leading by 55-48.
Staring at a seven-point deficit, Orlando blitzed the Wolves out of the locker room with a 20-7 run in the third quarter to wrest control of the game. The Magic, who were limited in the first half to only 4-of-13 behind the
arc in the first half, started with a two consecutive three-pointers from Jason Richardson as they started to inch their way back. Nelson then followed it with another to put them ahead at 63-60 with eight minutes to go.
Orlando mauled the Wolves 33-18 in the third quarter - a stretch that saw them commit nine turnovers that led to 12 Orlando points.The Magic entered the final stanza with an 81-73 cushion and were never seriously threatened
as they held on for a 108-99 victory.
Stan Van Gundy was all praise for Anderson after the match; the man who proved to be the game-breaker on the night.
"They play the same way quite honestly," Van Gundy said comparing Love and Anderson. "It (Love) spreads the floor out for other guys, he (Anderson) pulls guys away from the basket. Kevin Love doesn't want to guard a guy out
there either. I don't mean he's not trying, but it's not a comfortable place for big guys to go out and guard."
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