Orlando Magic beat up on Dallas Mavericks to remain unbeaten in pre-season
If the Orlando Magic played the regular season like they do the pre-season, they would break all sorts of records.
The Magic beat up on the Dallas Mavericks (3-4) 101-76 last night in Orlando to push their pre-season record to an unbeaten 7-0. Even
though
some argue their pre-season win-loss record is meaningless, it is still better than the alternative. But what is even more impressive is that the Magic have won their last 21 exhibition
matches, a streak dating back to their 2008 pre-season opener against the Atlanta Hawks.
"I'm ready for it to be real," said Orlando shooting guard Vince Carter. "It would be great to finish the pre-season undefeated, but it doesn't mean anything."
Dwight Howard, Orlando’s dominant centre, echoed his team-mate’s sentiments.
"It's nice, but it doesn't really mean anything," said Howard. "It's not going to get us the title."
Howard posted a robust double-double last night with 20 points and 13 rebounds, making all seven of his shots and finishing with four blocks. Carter, who shot 8-10 from the field and 4-4
from behind the arc, finished with 20 points while Rashard Lewis chipped in with 12.
The Mavericks, who sat out Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion to give them some rest, were led by Caron Butler, who scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds. Dominique Jones added 14 points
while Jason Terry, who started at shooting guard, struggled with his shot, going 1-10 from the field for five points.
Tyson Chandler cut his right thumb while going for a block in the second quarter. The cut required two stitches, forcing him to miss the entire second half.
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle wants to see more effort and energy from his team.
"We've got to be a team that challenges everything for 48 minutes," he said. "We've got to be efficient and we've got to challenge every inch out there."
Dallas did challenge the Magic in spurts but were eventually outhustled for the win. Thanks to two three-point plays by Howard early in the game, the Magic jumped out to a 31-21 lead after
one quarter. Dallas kept it close in the second, thanks to a 21-4 run, to enter half-time down only two points.
But the Magic were dominant in the third, showing off a varied arsenal of precise three-point shooting and ferocious inside play from Howard, to outscore the Mavericks 28-11 in the quarter.
As has been the norm for many teams this pre-season, the starters for both teams sat out the final frame but the Magic reserves still won the quarter 26-20 for the dominant win.
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, like his players, isn’t getting too excited about the pre-season win.
"The margin of victory and the wins is very deceptive," he said. "It's a function of being healthy and a function of the end of our bench is still a bunch of guys who can play."
Next up for the Magic is their first match-up with the star-laden Miami Heat in Orlando on Friday 22 October. Lewis said the Magic starters should get some significant minutes in that
one.
"I'm sure we will [play]," he said, with a chuckle.
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