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MickyEyez · 03-12-2008, 11:32 AM

@

LA Clippers (21-41) vs. Orlando Magic (41-24)

7:00 PM EST, Amway Arena

LA Clippers

Knight/Maggette/Ross/Thornton/Powell

Orlando Magic

Nelson/Evans/Turkoglu/Lewis/Howard

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Quote:

Hedo Turkoglu is one of the major reasons the Orlando Magic have made more 3-pointers than any team in the NBA. As his team has risen into the Eastern Conference elite, however, Turkoglu is showing he can do much more than shoot.

Coming off his second triple-double in about a month, Turkoglu and the Magic look for their fifth win in six games when they host the lowly Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

Orlando (41-24) averages an East-leading 104.7 points per game due in large part to its NBA-high 611 3-pointers made. Magic forwards Rashard Lewis (179) and Turkoglu (133) are in the league's top 10 in made 3s.

Turkoglu's all-around game, though, is finally garnering attention. He's averaging career highs in points (19.6), rebounds (6.1) and assists (4.9), and after not posting a triple-double in his first 568 NBA games, has two in his last 16.

One came Monday, when Turkoglu had 23 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds as Orlando beat Atlanta 123-112.

"Getting another triple-double is a big deal for me," said Turkoglu, averaging 21.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists in his last nine games. "I think I've always had the talent to do it, I'm just getting more of an opportunity to show that this season."

Turkoglu's pair of triple-doubles ties him for third in the league with Caron Butler and Baron Davis, behind only Jason Kidd (12) and LeBron James (7).

"He's playing great for us," point guard Jameer Nelson said. "We definitely put the ball in his hands a lot and he's a facilitator out there on the court even though he's a three-man."

Turkoglu had one of his best all-around games in the Magic's first meeting with the Clippers this season. He finished with a game-high 28 points, seven assists and seven rebounds as Orlando won 113-106 at Los Angeles on Jan. 9.

While Turkoglu is among the league leaders in triple-doubles, no one in the NBA has more double-doubles than Magic center Dwight Howard. He got his 56th of the season and 10th straight Monday, finishing with 26 points and 16 rebounds. Howard also leads the league in rebounds per game (14.5).

The Clippers' season was derailed by Elton Brand's ruptured left Achilles' tendon before they played a game, and recently injuries have kept center Chris Kaman out of the lineup as well.

A left shin contusion caused Kaman, the NBA's third-leading rebounder at 13.1 per game, to miss five games at the end of January. A sore lower back kept him out for the final four contests in February, and after returning for five games, that injury forced him to sit out Monday against Miami.

Kaman likely won't face Orlando, but is listed as day-to-day.

The Clippers (21-41) didn't need their 7-foot center to beat the Heat on Monday, rallying from a seven-point deficit after three quarters to win 99-98 - just their second victory in 10 games.

Cuttino Mobley had a game-high 29 points, while Al Thornton and Corey Maggette each scored 22.

"We've got some veterans on this team that really want to make plays," said Maggette, who started his career with Orlando in 1999-2000. "Cuttino really carried the team in the second half."

Maggette is averaging 24.5 points in his last eight games.

Brand's injury has given Thornton a chance to play key minutes in his rookie season. The 6-foot-8 forward is averaging 11.8 points in 2007-08 - second-most among first-year players - and 18.4 over his last seven games.

should be an easy win as long as the MAGIC stay focused.

GO MAGIC!

atmacfan · 03-12-2008, 12:57 PM

No excuse to lose this one... im even calling a JJ sighting for tonite!

MickyEyez · 03-12-2008, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atmacfan

No excuse to lose this one... im even calling a JJ sighting for tonite!

he was actually excused from practice and this game for "personal reasons"...

so unfortunately JJ won't make even garbage time.

Idunkonyou · 03-12-2008, 04:38 PM

Howard almost has a double/double and we aren't even out of the 1st quarter yet. 14 points and 9 boards.

Blue Magic · 03-12-2008, 05:32 PM

Dang, just started watching.....looks like Dwight is getting murdered down low, but the refs are lettin em play tonight. Looks like we got this one wrapped up tho, just need to finish strong.

Blue Magic · 03-12-2008, 05:42 PM

It's rainin three's right now, and are D looks solid....lookin good fellas

Idunkonyou · 03-12-2008, 06:17 PM

Howard bumped knees with Maggette and had to go in to the locker room. Hopefully he is ok. It seemed he just had a stinger, sort of like when you bump your elbow. This game is pretty much over with as well. 22 point lead with about 2 minutes left.

Idunkonyou · 03-12-2008, 06:20 PM

Update on Howard. It is just a bruised right quad. Nothing serious.

Blue Magic · 03-12-2008, 06:25 PM

Good stuff...hope he'll be good to go by friday.

MickyEyez · 03-12-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Idunkonyou

Update on Howard. It is just a bruised right quad. Nothing serious.

thank God...

i think every MAGIC fan had a mild heart attack when he hit the floor and didn't get up quick. i'm still amazed that this kid has yet to miss a game.

on another note... great win for the team. solid victory and what made me happy was that they never let the Clips really get close and think they had a chance. These are the type of games that the MAGIC are expected to dominate from whistle to whistle. with the weak upcoming schedule, hopefully they can continue to play like they did tonight.

on another note: i was wrong about JJ (which i got the info from a report)... even JJ got some quality garbage time.

atmacfan · 03-12-2008, 08:30 PM

Good convincing win... Rashard Lewis really had a solid game 22, 9, and 5. JJ makes the box score with 1 turnover lol.

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