Orlando is 19-22 all-time vs. Memphis (13-7 at home, 2-14 at Memphis, 4-1 at Vancouver) during regular season action, including 1-1 last season. Orlando snapped a nine-game losing streak to Memphis on Apr. 3, 2016 (119-107 win
@ Orlando) but have lost ten of the last 12 meetings overall. The Magic have won five of the last eight matchups at home, but
lost 14 of the 16 overall meetings in Memphis. Marreese Speights appeared in 100 games with the Grizzlies during parts of two
seasons (2011-13).
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. GRIZZLIES: 37 pts., Anfernee Hardaway (@ Orlando, 11-22-95)
Elfrid Payton – strained left hamstring, OUT
Memphis Injury Report:JaMychal Green (Out, left foot/ankle)
Ben McLemore (Out, right foot)
Wayne Selden Jr. (Out, right quad)
Mike Conley (Questionable, sore left achilles)
Marc Gasol (Questionable, left ankle)
``I’m mentally prepared on the bench and it doesn’t matter if I’m going to play or not, I’ll always be locked in on the game, know what’s going on and know how the (opposing) big guys are playing,’’ said Speights, who has been one of the NBA’s best reserves for much of his 10-year NBA career. ``Then, when I get into the game, I’m already loaded and ready. But that comes from being locked in and mentally prepared on the bench.’’
``When he checks in, he’s hot,’’ Vogel marveled. ``It’s a heck of a luxury to have him.’’
`He’s always ready, but I’m not changing the rotation right now I don’t think,’’ Vogel said of Speights, who is averaging 7.8 points in 12.5 minutes a game thus far this season. ``It’s just a heck of a luxury to have a guy down there (at the end of the bench) that you can throw into a game at any point and he can change things up.’’
The Orlando Magic did not exercise their fourth-year team option on Mario Hezonja for the 2018-19 season before Tuesday’s 11:59 p.m. deadline to do so, league sources confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel.
The Magic’s decision means Hezonja will become an unrestricted free agent in July. Although league rules will permit the Magic to re-sign Hezonja, it appears highly likely that he’ll play elsewhere next season. His camp is eager to seek opportunities in which he can carve out a stable place in an NBA team’s rotation, a source with knowledge of the situation said.
Magic officials would not comment about their decision.
The Magic rank No. 1 in the NBA right now in opponent 3-pointers made (7.4 per game) and opponent 3-point percentage (27.8%).
THIS DATE IN MAGIC HISTORY – NOVEMBER 1…
November 1, 2008 – In a 121-103 road victory over Sacramento, the Magic had four players with 20+ points. Dwight Howard
(29), Rashard Lewis (26), Hedo Turkoglu (21) and Mickael Pietrus (20) all scored 20-or-more.
November 1, 1991 – Orlando opened its third season with a 106-96 victory over New York, spoiling the coaching debut of new
Knicks mentor Pat Riley. Nick Anderson led the way for the Magic with 22 points. Patrick Ewing posted a game-high 30 points.
