Magic turns on the style to overpower the Chicago Bulls
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Reuters
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 02, 2009 00:00
CHICAGO - The Orlando Magic looked a different team from the one that stumbled to an untidy loss in their last game, an improved offensive display led to a comprehensive 113-94 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
Rashard Lewis led seven Magic scorers in double figures with 21 points as the Southeast Division leaders quickly erased the memories of Monday's 88-82 loss to the Detroit Pistons.
Turkish forward Hidayet "Hedo" Türkoğlu added 18 points and nine rebounds, while Dwight Howard had 15 points and 14 rebounds for Orlando, who took a commanding 65-38 lead at halftime on Lewis's 16 points.
Despite the setback against Detroit, Orlando (25-7) has won 25-of-30 games since losing its opening two contests of the campaign and is just two losses behind the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers at the top of the Eastern Conference.
"It's not being arrogant or cocky, (but) when we step on the floor we expect to win," Magic point guard Jameer Nelson told reporters.
The Magic converted 11 three-pointers to complement Howard's sterling work in the paint.
"If you don't double-team Howard, he kills you inside," first-year Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. "They have shooters around him... it makes it hard on your defensive rotations. They are very, very talented. That's why they are one of the best teams in the East." Chicago reserve Joakim Noah put up 19 points and 11 rebounds while Ben Gordon scored 18 points in the Bulls' fourth loss of the season at the United Center.
The Bulls (14-18) have lost four of their last five, battling against a host of injuries that left them without without power forward Drew Gooden (ankle), guard Kirk Hinrich (thumb) and small forward Luol Deng (ankle) against the Magic.
"When teams are down three players, that is what you're supposed to do," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said of his team's blowout victory. Point guard Derrick Rose, the top pick in the NBA draft, finished with 11 points on 5-for-13 shooting. The Magic used a 20-6 spurt in the first quarter to establish early control and never looked back. Orlando's bench provided a boost to keep the Bulls at bay, led by 14 points from Marcin Gortat and 12 from Courtney Lee.
Turkish forward Hidayet "Hedo" Türkoğlu added 18 points and nine rebounds, while Dwight Howard had 15 points and 14 rebounds for Orlando, who took a commanding 65-38 lead at halftime on Lewis's 16 points.
Despite the setback against Detroit, Orlando (25-7) has won 25-of-30 games since losing its opening two contests of the campaign and is just two losses behind the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers at the top of the Eastern Conference.
"It's not being arrogant or cocky, (but) when we step on the floor we expect to win," Magic point guard Jameer Nelson told reporters.
The Magic converted 11 three-pointers to complement Howard's sterling work in the paint.
"If you don't double-team Howard, he kills you inside," first-year Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. "They have shooters around him... it makes it hard on your defensive rotations. They are very, very talented. That's why they are one of the best teams in the East." Chicago reserve Joakim Noah put up 19 points and 11 rebounds while Ben Gordon scored 18 points in the Bulls' fourth loss of the season at the United Center.
The Bulls (14-18) have lost four of their last five, battling against a host of injuries that left them without without power forward Drew Gooden (ankle), guard Kirk Hinrich (thumb) and small forward Luol Deng (ankle) against the Magic.
"When teams are down three players, that is what you're supposed to do," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said of his team's blowout victory. Point guard Derrick Rose, the top pick in the NBA draft, finished with 11 points on 5-for-13 shooting. The Magic used a 20-6 spurt in the first quarter to establish early control and never looked back. Orlando's bench provided a boost to keep the Bulls at bay, led by 14 points from Marcin Gortat and 12 from Courtney Lee.