Sean Highkin

at 3:35 pm

AP Photo/John Raoux BOX SCORE Despite starting off hot and jumping out to an 18-4 lead over the Mavericks, the Magic lost this game in the first quarter. Orlando owned the first half of the opening period and it was looking as though they were headed for a morale-boosting blowout of a reasonably superior team. …

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Jan 18

What is Nikola Vucevic’s ceiling?

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Analysis

at 11:18 am

Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images Nikola Vucevic has made headlines over the past few weeks for his rebounding prowess. He’s pulled down at least 12 boards in the last eight Magic games, which is the second-longest streak in the NBA (Anderson Varejao did it 12 straight times earlier this season). And Vucevic set …

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Jan 09

Revisiting the Ryan Anderson trade

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Commentary

at 11:40 am

Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images Rob Hennigan’s decision not to match the Hornets’ four-year, $34 million offer sheet for Ryan Anderson in July during the offseason was a polarizing one. On the one hand, Anderson was the reigning Most Improved Player and had proven himself a more-than-reliable floor-spacing big, and a contract in …

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Jan 08

Recap: Portland Trail Blazers 125, Orlando Magic 119 (OT)

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at 4:45 pm

Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images BOX SCORE The Blazers and Magic have a number of similarities, but are riding streaks of opposite types at the moment. Both teams came into the season with little to no expectation of success and feature new coaches who have done impressive work replacing mainstays in their respective …

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Jan 03

Recap: Chicago Bulls 96, Orlando Magic 94

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at 3:22 pm

Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images BOX SCORE We knew reality was going to settle in at some point. For all the much-deserved talk about how good a job Jacque Vaughn has done with this Magic roster, for the handful of games they probably shouldn’t have won that they did, for the fact that …

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Dec 28

#ORLrank 2: Shaquille O’Neal

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Commentary

at 11:43 am

AP Photo/Steve Simoneau G MP PER VORP WARP WS/82 1993-1994 81 3224 28.5 7.56 24.0 17.1 Shaquille O’Neal’s best season with the Magic Talking about Shaquille O’Neal’s four seasons with the Magic, now that he’s retired after a 19-year career and generally considered one of the five greatest centers of all time, is like …

Tags: #ORLrank

Dec 14

#ORLrank 4: Penny Hardaway

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Commentary

at 11:07 am

Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images G MP PER VORP WARP WS/82 1995-1996 82 3015 24.6 6.73 19.3 14.4 Penny Hardaway’s best season with the Magic Penny Hardaway was, in many ways, the quintessential Orlando Magic superstar. Since the franchise’s inception in 1989, a handful of the most exciting players of the past …

Tags: #ORLrank

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Dec 10

Andrew Nicholson carving out a niche

Categories:

Analysis

at 12:25 pm

Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images With their win over the Suns on Sunday night, the Magic secured a 3-2 record over the course of their five-game West Coast road trip, which should be cause for celebration in and of itself. More significant than a few tough road wins, however, has been the sense …

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Dec 08

Recap: Sacramento Kings 91, Orlando Magic 82

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at 8:05 pm

AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli BOX SCORE For the most part, the Magic’s offense of late has been fairly well-balanced, even in their losses. They get contributions from diverse areas of the roster, with the youngsters trading off having standout performances and the veterans generally being reliable. That held true for one quarter on Friday and one …

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