(Sports Network) - The Orlando Magic look to continue this great road trip
Wednesday night when they head to EnergySolutions Arena for a matchup with the
struggling Utah Jazz.
The Magic exacted some level of revenge Sunday night with a win over their
former franchise center Dwight Howard and the Los Angeles Lakers. The next
night, Orlando came out and bested the Golden State Warriors, 102-94.
"Very impressed. That was a challenge that we had in front of us tonight of
not hanging our heads on yesterday's win," head coach Jacque Vaughn said after
the Warriors win. "Guys did an incredible job with their focus and aggression
at the beginning of the game."
Arron Afflalo led the way again for the Magic on Monday. He netted 24 points
after 30 the night before in Los Angeles. Glen Davis also had 24, J.J. Redick
added 22 off the bench and center Nikola Vucevic had a double-double with 14
points and 15 points.
The key for the Magic on this road swing, which has stops left in Sacramento
and Phoenix after Wednesday night, has been offense. Despite having six
players average in double-digits, the Magic rank 26th in the NBA in scoring.
They've gone over the century mark in both victories on the west coast.
"It's a lot easier to win games when you're scoring over 100 than when you're
scoring in the 70s and low 80s," said Redick. "The last couple of nights we've
been very good moving the ball offensively."
The Jazz are in the throes of a three-game losing streak. On Monday, the Jazz
dropped their first home game of the season, a 105-104 setback to the Los
Angeles Clippers.
The Clippers outscored the Jazz 32-21 in the fourth quarter and it ruined an
otherwise solid effort from Utah. Five Jazz players scored in double-figures
and the team shot 56.8 percent from the field and 45 percent from the 3-point
line.
The Clippers had 25 points in the paint to 11 from the Jazz and Los Angeles
attempted nine more free throws.
"We're going inside. We're an attack inside team first," said head coach
Tyrone Corbin. "For whatever reason, other teams seem to get more free throws
than we do."
The Jazz are once again expected to be without the services of Derrick Favors
(plantar fasciitis) and Marvin Williams (concussion symptoms). The two have
missed the last few games with the injuries.
Utah has won three straight and four of the last five against the Magic, and
Orlando hasn't won in Utah since Dec. 13, 2008.
The Sports Network