After looking very much like a team on the second game of a road back-to-back for three quarters, the Orlando Magic battled to within mere moments of pulling out their first win of the season.
But the Minnesota Timberwolves used a game-tying 3-point field goal from Kevin Love to force overtime, where they were able to come away with a 120-115 victory.
Offense wasn’t a problem for the Magic. Arron Afflalo bounced back from a 3-of-14 performance on Tuesday at Indiana to pour in 28 points, while Nikola Vucevic added 22 points and 16 rebounds. Afflalo’s fast-break layup off a lead pass from Jameer Nelson had given the Magic, who trailed by 17 points in the second quarter, a 101-100 lead with 24.4 seconds remaining in regulation.
Six Magic players scored in double figures despite getting next to nothing from Maurice Harkless (two points and one rebound in 19 minutes).
Love’s 3-pointer coming out of a timeout brought the Timberwolves back to life with 10.1 seconds to go in the fourth. The Magic had held them to two points over the previous three minutes and were up 103-100 after two free throws by rookie Victor Oladipo.
Afflalo missed a turnaround fadeaway over Corey Brewer to end the quarter. The Magic never led in overtime as the Timberwolves took command with the help of three-point plays from Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin.
Love, who missed the final 53 games of last season with a broken hand, was a factor even before his crucial 3. He had 24 points and 14 rebounds through three quarters, prompting Magic coach Jacque Vaughn to go with Solomon Jones instead of Jason Maxiell at power forward the rest of the way. Jones was much more effective than Maxiell, who held the Pacers’ David West in check for most of Tuesday night’s loss.
One night after the Pacers tied a record for most shots blocked in a game by a Magic opponent with 18, the Timberwolves had only three.
Friday night vs. New Orleans, 7 p.m. (FOX Sports Florida).
