Magic Musings: Poor shooting rears its head against Hornets again
ORLANDO, Fla. -- There's something about the Charlotte Hornets that brings out the worst in the Orlando Magic when it comes to shooting.
Despite getting 21 points from Victor Oladipo, the Magic hit only 36.5 percent of their field-goal attempts Sunday night in losing 98-83. It was the first time they shot less than 39 percent in a game since the Hornets' most recent trip to Orlando on Jan. 3, a game in which the Magic scored only 29 points in the first half.
The Hornets, who had dropped six of their previous seven games, shot 50 percent and placed all five of their starters in double figures.
Except for Oladipo, the Magic struggled for most of the night. Nikola Vucevic and Tobias Harris went a combined 8 of 25, and Elfrid Payton went scoreless and did not play in the fourth quarter.
The Magic were again without both Evan Fournier (sore right hip) and rookie Aaron Gordon (sprained right ankle). But they got a lift from Maurice Harkless and Andrew Nicholson, who helped hold the Hornets to 15 second-quarter points. The two of them were also on the floor during an 8-1 run to begin the fourth quarter that brought the Magic within four.
Nicholson finished with 11 points, the most for a reserve on either team, and four rebounds in 17 minutes. Harkless had five rebounds and a block in 16 minutes.
Ben Gordon played the entire fourth quarter, marking only the second time he got into a game since James Borrego took over as head coach a month ago.
THE TURNING POINT
After a buzzer-beating jumper by Gerald Henderson gave the Hornets a 43-42 halftime lead, they opened the third quarter on a 16-3 run which included two 3-pointers from him.
THE DIFFERENCE MAKER
In his fifth game since being acquired from Minnesota, Mo Williams had a double-double before the end of the third quarter and finished with 23 points and 11 assists.
STAT OF THE GAME
Vucevic had only four points and four rebounds through three quarters and needed a basket with 40.2 seconds remaining to avoid his first game all season of not scoring in double figures.
WHAT'S NEXT
Wednesday night vs. Phoenix, 7 p.m.
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.
