Orlando Magic Rumors
“Next game in Atlanta is big for us and the one after that (too) because we can’t keep digging ourselves such a hole,’’ said Vucevic, whose 27-point, six-rebound, four-assist and two-block effort wasn’t nearly enough in Saturday’s 118-108 loss to the Bucks. “This is it for us. Every game for us on the board is like a Game 7. We don’t have any margin for error any more. This is it for us and this is our season. So, we either show that we’re built to do this or not. So, we’ll see how we all react.’’
“We’re (eight) games under .500 and it’s still not over,’’ Vucevic said of the team’s playoff chase. “We’re three or four games out and things can turn around quickly, but it has to be done. If we keep losing and keep sliding and there’s too much of a gap, the teams in front of us aren’t going to lose that many games. It’ll be hard for us to go on, like, a 10 or 11-game winning streak. We have to do it right now. Every game, we have to bring it and play at our best for 48 minutes and try to win as many games as we can until the (All-Star) break.’’
Clifford is in Orlando now, and he understands better than ever the importance of taking care of himself and monitoring his own health in a business where keeping your job depends largely on winning. He took significant steps to improve his sleep patterns and overall health, this after a previous heart scare as well. The 57-year-old Clifford said the support from Kerr helped. “It was great,” Clifford said of Kerr’s phone call. “He was one of the guys who reached out and obviously we had the health issue in common. It was a terrific gesture.”
Matt Velazquez: Bucks win, 118-108. Bledsoe with a season-high 30 points. Giannis 25 pts, 13 rebs, Brogdon 18 pts, Middleton 15, Lopez 8 pts, 6 blocks.
Josh Robbins: Aaron Gordon will not play tonight against the Bucks because of a sore lower back he hurt last night, Magic officials said.
Two teams interested in Ntilikina
Despite the Knicks’ clear lack of confidence in Ntilikina, teams have inquired about the 20-year-old, with the Magic and Suns expressing interest, according to a source. And this is where it gets interesting. There seems to be a debate within the Knicks on whether to deal Ntilikina. He was drafted by Mills and has supporters in the front office.
Fournier, the hero of Magic wins over Cleveland and Detroit with his last-second heroics, came up short on Friday when he had a shot to tie the game and force overtime. Afterward, he not only didn’t make excuses about missing a 7-footer at the horn, but he talked about expecting himself to come through for an Orlando team that leans so heavily on him late in games. “A great look, to be honest, and I couldn’t ask for more, but I just missed it,’’ said Fournier, whose Magic had to try and digest the disgust of blowing a big lead and losing 117-115 to the upstart Brooklyn Nets at the Amway Center.
