Orlando Magic vs. Portland Trail Blazers Preview and Predictions 11-28-2018
BY GRACENOTE
After two lopsided losses on the road, the Portland Trail Blazers were much closer in their return home but still wound up on the wrong end of the score. The Blazers will try to snap their three-game losing streak when they continue the homestand against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.
Portland lost by 43 at Milwaukee and by 28 at Golden State to finish a six-game swing before its misery continued with a 104-100 loss to the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. "I think we're just hitting a rough patch," point guard Damian Lillard told reporters. "Early on, everybody's body was fresh, everybody's mind was fresh. The bounce was going our way, everything was happening right for us and (we) were winning games. But, also, we did a lot of things to put ourselves in position to win games, a lot of simple things on both ends of the floor. We just haven't been as sharp at those things at either end of the floor. It's too spotty." The Magic gave the Warriors a much better game before falling 116-110 on Sunday. Nikola Vucevic scored 30 points and hauled in 12 rebounds as Orlando fell to 1-2 on its current six-game road trip.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Orlando), NBCS Northwest (Portland)
ABOUT THE MAGIC (10-11): Forward Aaron Gordon missed all six of his shots in 22 scoreless minutes at Golden State before exiting with a back issue that has him questionable for Wednesday, and his absence allowed the Warriors -- particularly Kevin Durant -- to go off. "(Not having Gordon) screwed up our rotations and the group that we had out there in the third quarter, that wouldn't have been the group (on the floor)," coach Steve Clifford told the media after Durant went for 49 points. "That's really, to me, where the game got away." Vucevic did his best to keep Orlando close while reaching the 30-point plateau for the fourth time in seven games.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (12-8): The loss of center Jusuf Nurkic to a shoulder injury hurt Portland's chances in the second half against Los Angeles, but he has been removed from the team's injury report and is expected to suit up Wednesday. The 24-year-old had five consecutive double-doubles prior to the three-game losing streak. Lillard, who had 41 points in a win at Orlando earlier this season, is averaging 28.8 points and six assists over his last five games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Vucevic had 24 points and 11 rebounds in the earlier loss to Portland.
2. Blazers PF Al-Farouq Aminu is 2-for-18 from 3-point range over his last three games.
3. Portland has won four straight meetings.
PREDICTION: Trail Blazers 116, Magic 108
BY GRACENOTE
After two lopsided losses on the road, the Portland Trail Blazers were much closer in their return home but still wound up on the wrong end of the score. The Blazers will try to snap their three-game losing streak when they continue the homestand against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.
Portland lost by 43 at Milwaukee and by 28 at Golden State to finish a six-game swing before its misery continued with a 104-100 loss to the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. "I think we're just hitting a rough patch," point guard Damian Lillard told reporters. "Early on, everybody's body was fresh, everybody's mind was fresh. The bounce was going our way, everything was happening right for us and (we) were winning games. But, also, we did a lot of things to put ourselves in position to win games, a lot of simple things on both ends of the floor. We just haven't been as sharp at those things at either end of the floor. It's too spotty." The Magic gave the Warriors a much better game before falling 116-110 on Sunday. Nikola Vucevic scored 30 points and hauled in 12 rebounds as Orlando fell to 1-2 on its current six-game road trip.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Orlando), NBCS Northwest (Portland)
ABOUT THE MAGIC (10-11): Forward Aaron Gordon missed all six of his shots in 22 scoreless minutes at Golden State before exiting with a back issue that has him questionable for Wednesday, and his absence allowed the Warriors -- particularly Kevin Durant -- to go off. "(Not having Gordon) screwed up our rotations and the group that we had out there in the third quarter, that wouldn't have been the group (on the floor)," coach Steve Clifford told the media after Durant went for 49 points. "That's really, to me, where the game got away." Vucevic did his best to keep Orlando close while reaching the 30-point plateau for the fourth time in seven games.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (12-8): The loss of center Jusuf Nurkic to a shoulder injury hurt Portland's chances in the second half against Los Angeles, but he has been removed from the team's injury report and is expected to suit up Wednesday. The 24-year-old had five consecutive double-doubles prior to the three-game losing streak. Lillard, who had 41 points in a win at Orlando earlier this season, is averaging 28.8 points and six assists over his last five games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Vucevic had 24 points and 11 rebounds in the earlier loss to Portland.
2. Blazers PF Al-Farouq Aminu is 2-for-18 from 3-point range over his last three games.
3. Portland has won four straight meetings.
PREDICTION: Trail Blazers 116, Magic 108