Magic Musings: Nikola Vucevic's monster performance keys road victory
With Nikola Vucevic pouring in a career-high 37 points, the Orlando Magic snapped a 12-game road losing streak Friday night by defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 97-84.
Not only did Vucevic make 18 of his 25 shots from the floor, but he also pulled down 17 rebounds in helping the Magic to a whopping 53-30 advantage in that category. On a day when the Timberwolves announced that Nikola Pekovic will undergo surgery next week on the Achilles tendon on his right foot, they had no answer inside for the Magic's 7-footer.
For only the second time all season, the Magic never trailed in a game as they posted their 23rd victory -- equaling their total from a year ago -- and won away from home for the first time since James Borrego became their interim coach Feb. 5. Vucevic had 33 points in their 121-114 victory Jan. 12 at Chicago and a pair of 34-point outings for his previous career high.
The Magic had lost four in a row, all at home, and 10 of their past 11 games. But the Timberwolves were down to only eight healthy players and saw their home record drop to 9-30, the worst in the NBA.
Vucevic was one of three Magic players to finish with a double-double. Tobias Harris had 25 points and 12 rebounds, and rookie Elfrid Payton scored 10 points and handed out 10 assists.
Magic backup point guard Luke Ridnour, who spent three seasons with the Timberwolves, was not with the team because his wife is expecting to give birth to the couple's fourth child.
THE TURNING POINT
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Harris capped a 10-1 run by the Magic in the fourth quarter after their lead had been cut to 76-73.
THE DIFFERENCE MAKER
Vucevic went over the 30-point mark for the sixth time this season and has scored in double figures in all 68 of his games. The last time he was held to fewer than 10 points was on April 2, 2014 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, when he finished with seven points.
STAT OF THE GAME
After the Magic had given up 101 3-pointers in their previous nine games, the Timberwolves went 1 of 11 from that distance. They missed their first nine attempts before Chase Budinger connected to make it a 67-63 game late in the third quarter.
WHAT'S NEXT
Saturday night at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.
