Let's see if the Hornets can pull off another surprising road win. They play the Magic in Orlando tonight in a nationally televised game on TNT. Action tips at 7 Central.
At 34-17, Orlando are tied with Denver for the third-best record in the NBA. The've won five of their last six and are 19-5 at home this season. Like the Bobcats, who the Hornets just beat on Saturday, the Magic are known for their defense, holding their last six opponents to an average of 88 points per game. Reigning defensive player of the year Dwight Howard has been on a roll recently, averaging 21 points, 15.2 rebounds and 3.6 blocks in his last five.
The Magic are coming off yesterday's big win in Boston, bouncing back from an unexpected loss to the Wizards at home on Friday.
Numbers:
Pace: Magic 95.0 (15th), Hornets 94.2 (20th)
Offensive Efficiency: Magic 106.4 (11th), Hornets 104.9 (14th)
Defensive Efficiency: Magic 99.4 (2nd), Hornets 105.7 (19th)
The Hornets are looking for their fifth straight win on the road, but may still be without Marcus Thornton who's listed as questionable for tonight. On Saturday the Hornets ended a three-game losing streak by beating the Bobcats in Charlotte, thanks in large part to a career-high 24 points from Darren Collison.
Rival bloggers: Orlando Magic Daily (THN) | Orlando Pinstriped Post
(Many thanks to Dariusz for today's banner featuring Bobby Phills. Be sure to check out more of Dariusz's designs in our Wallpapers vault.)
24 life-affirming comments post your own
Chung
02/08/10 03:25 PM
magic are on a back-to-back. If there was ever a time to pull the road upset, it's tonight. Having a healthy Marcus back wouldn't hurt, either.
#1
LSUhornet17
02/08/10 03:46 PM
It would be nice if Buckets could come back tonight. I don't see Carter or Reddick keeping up with him all night. Hopefully Emeka can bother Dwight more than Perkins and Wallace did yesterday.
#2
LSUhornet17
02/08/10 03:54 PM
On a totally unrelated note, check out Hilton being all super sneaky like at the end of an already-decided game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljq59M9xXjA&feature=player_embedded
#3
Zwie
02/08/10 05:39 PM
LMAO!!!!! Oh my god!!!! that has got to be the funniest thing ive seen in a while!!!!!
#4
HollisBuckeye21
02/08/10 05:43 PM
Oh man. That video is hilarious. Now I wish we didn't trade him...haha
I think if Thorton can go we have a shot. Orlando has a big one with Cleveland Thursday and Friday night the Wizards came in and beat them in Orlando before the Boston game.
And as stated above it's a back-to-back so this is a solid chance. Hopefully the Hornets snag the win.
#5
Mark
02/08/10 06:29 PM
Hilton's always been a goof. Not particularly useful on court, but a good kid.
That... sort of steal definitely puts him on par with CP with fantasy points. Definitely.
www.dogpile.com/ #6
Caleb462
02/08/10 06:50 PM
Good luck Hornets. Hope its a good game.
Also... WHO DAT!
neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com #7
Zwie
02/08/10 07:36 PM
Am i the only person who believes that if there was any game to test out aaron Gray it is this game right here. Sean Marks and Emeka are getting abused out there. Aaron Gray has got the body to atleast pose a problem.
#8
HollisBuckeye21
02/08/10 07:46 PM
Gray in. Zwie, it's like you have a sixth sense. Fumbled that pass from DC at the end of the quarter. Dwight is abusing us (which I expected) but we are playing solid. A win tonight and maybe even another Wed? It'd do wonders for this team. Hope we keep this up.
#9
Caleb462
02/08/10 08:00 PM
Hornets playing great ball right now.
neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com #10
Zwie
02/08/10 08:06 PM
Another 6th sense moment.. Bower says he likes to set the line-ups with the matchups.. well When dwight is in, is gotta be EMeka or Aaron. DEFINETLY not DArius Songalia.. and as we can tell Sean cant contain him either...
#11
Caleb462
02/08/10 08:18 PM
Near-perfect offensive execution in the first half.
neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com #12
pinoyballah
02/08/10 08:20 PM
wow...no paul and thornton and we are lighting it up..70 points in the half.....must be the nationally televised game? haha. after being up by 14 and the magic cutting to 6, we brought it back up to 15 in a minute. is it cuz we are playing at a faster pace or is it just we are knockng down our shoots?
another note, howard is abusing our inside players...okafor 2pf, marks 3pf, and gray 2pf.
#13
Zwie
02/08/10 08:22 PM
Words cant describe the Euphoria im feeling at the end of the half.... I dont think we could have played a better half.. Heres to a "even better 2nd half" GUEX HORNETS!! (and i NEVER EVER say that)
#14
cameron is my name!
02/08/10 08:32 PM
YEAH! Aaron Gray dunk!
http://www.hornets247.com/images/uploads/2010/01/370-aaron-gray.jpg
#15
Mark
02/08/10 08:41 PM
Great execution first half. Must put more emphasis on the defense though. The Magic can shoot at that clip all night, the Hornets... not so much.
Let's take advantage of their segababa. Geaux Bees!
www.dogpile.com/ #16
HollisBuckeye21
02/08/10 08:47 PM
Slow start to the second half. Three turnovers already. Might need a timeout. Ha, Bower called one as I typed this.
We need to respond and quick.
#17
Caleb462
02/08/10 08:54 PM
Magic really tightened up on D, and even the easy looks not falling now.
Man I expected a run, but wow... the Magic hammering the Hornets right now. Gotta get it under control.
neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com #18
HollisBuckeye21
02/08/10 09:15 PM
Wow. Hornets stepping up there. Up 7 after three. And back up 11 right now. Way to weather the storm and keep playing.
#19
Caleb462
02/08/10 09:23 PM
Very true Hollis.... but now they've got to weather another.
neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com #20
Mark
02/08/10 09:43 PM
Not only do we not have a SG, we have no defense for one either. I wasn't joking when I said the Magic could keep that up all night.
I'm not going to watch the remainder 30 ticks. Can't be too disappointed with the squad tonight, but what a wasted opportunity.
www.dogpile.com/ #21
Julia
02/08/10 09:55 PM
Very disappointing loss for the Bees tonight. I really thought we had good effort..well, I only watched the first half which seemed to be just about perfect. Also, Collison is logging heavy minutes! How long can this rookie keep it up? Young, fresh legs? Umm..
#22
JCS
02/08/10 10:01 PM
I just got back from Miami Beach, where people are still talking about them Saints...Why did we lose this one and how did Collison drop 27???
lovethegame.tumblr.com #23
Kevin
02/08/10 10:13 PM
Bahahahaha at continuing to keep Posey on Carter after he was abused like that.
Carter scored 12 in the first half of the third quarter with Mo Pete guarding him. Posey came in with about three minutes left in the quarter, and Vince scored 22 points the rest of the game.
Don't put your best man defender in the game to guard the guy who is shooting 75%; that would make way too much sense.
#24