The Orlando Magic prevailed at home over the Washington Wizards 117-108 Friday night in a matchup of the worst offense in the league against the worst defense.
Orlando came into Friday night averaging only 101.3 points per game, but tied its season high in points and shot a season-high 51.2 percent from the floor -- only the second time it had made more than 50 percent of its field goals this season.
Nikola Vucevic led the way for Orlando with 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Aaron Gordon scored 20. Magic rookie Mo Bamba made 7 of 8 field goals, including a 3-pointer and three long-range jump shots. The 7-foot center had 15 points in only 17 minutes.
Orlando has now won three of its last four games after a 2-6 start.
Bradley Beal had 27 points and John Wall added 19 points and 12 assists for the Wizards, who are tied for the second-worst record in the league at 2-9.
Orlando led as many as 25 points in the third quarter after Gordon drained a pair of free throws, but Washington nearly came all the way back in the fourth. With just under five minutes left in the game, Washington was able to cut the lead to single digits for the first time since early in the second quarter.
Two minutes later, the Wizards trailed by one after Beal hit a 3-pointer and Washington scored on two breakaway layups. But Orlando regained control when D.J. Augustin made a fadeaway 3-pointer with 2:11 left, and the Magic closed out the game on a 11-3 run.
Dwight Howard, playing in just his fourth game for the Wizards, faced off for the 16th time against the team that made him the No. 1 pick in the 2004 draft. Orlando has not had a winning record since trading Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers before the 2012-13 season.
The Wizards play their second game in two nights Saturday in Miami before returning home for a rematch against Orlando on Monday. The Magic visit New York on Sunday before facing the Wizards on Monday.
--Field Level Media
Washington | Orlando | |
Bradley Beal 27 | Scoring | Nikola Vucevic 21 |
John Wall 12 | Assists | Evan Fournier 6 |
Dwight Howard 8 | Rebounds | Nikola Vucevic 14 |
Kelly Oubre Jr. 5 | Free Throws Made | D.J. Augustin 5 |
Bradley Beal 2 | Steals | Evan Fournier 2 |
Bradley Beal 1 | Blocks | Mo Bamba 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Washington | 108 | 51.2 | 11-27 | 13-19 | 24 | 35 | 3 | 8 | 19 |
Orlando | 117 | 51.2 | 13-31 | 16-19 | 26 | 41 | 6 | 8 | 16 |