Magic Defense Stellar in Win vs. Nets
ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic are flexing their defensive muscles after a 108-81 victory against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night at the Kia Center.
The 81 points is the fewest the Magic have allowed in a game this season and the third-lowest score from any team in the league all year.
"I think that was a big emphasis; to try and make it miserable for them on the offensive side, and we did that," Caleb Houstan said postgame. "I think it was really good.”
Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
The biggest task for the Nets all night came with limiting Mikal Bridges, who scored 42 points in their last meeting in December. However, he shot just 2 of 14 for the field for a measly four points, a season-low for Bridges.
"I really think that was a big portion of it, understanding exactly what he’s capable of doing and what he’s done to our group the times that we’ve played him," coach Jamahl Mosley said. "So just focusing on what we know to do, our rotations, being able to be active, defend without fouling, all of those little things that our coaches put together for the game plan that these guys follow.”
The Magic are playing at a very high level defensively, currently ranking fifth in the NBA in defensive rating. Franz Wagner spoke after the game and explained why the team has played well on the defensive end.
"Communication, effort, [and] just locked into the game plan. We’ve seen it in a different way already this season, against them," Wagner said. "I think it was good for everybody to come out locked in and do what we did.”
The Magic will look to stay locked in when the Utah Jazz come to town tomorrow night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
