John Denton
.@OrlandoMagic G @VicOladipo has been medically cleared from concussion suffered. He will return to the starting lineup vs. @Timberwolves
Josh Robbins
Reserve big man Jason Smith (sore left knee) is expected to play tonight, Scott Skiles said.
Timberwolves INJURY REPORT:
Questionable- Rubio (mild left hamstring strain)
Out- Pekovic (Right Achilles)
Out - Garnett (old)
John Denton
.@OrlandoMagic G/F @EvanFourmizz says he's definitely playing tonight despite having a fever & a cold the last 2 days.
Asked how he'll defend @Timberwolves F @22wiggins tonight, @OrlandoMagic F @EvanFourmizz : "I'll cough on him." EF has been sick for 2 days
``Wiggins is a really good player. I just try to use my athleticism and size to match up to guys like that,’’ Gordon said. ``I don’t know who I will be guarding tonight. Some nights its (small forwards) or (power forwards) and some nights I get switched onto the (point guards). Whatever, I’ll do what my team needs me to do. And if it comes down to Wiggins, I’ll do it.’’
Orlando’s youth can be seen in its inconsistencies from quarter to quarter this season. The Magic have been very good at starting games – they rank first in the NBA in first-quarter field goal percentage (51.2 percent) and 3-point shooting (49.1 percent) and second in scoring (28.2) in the first 12 minutes of games. However, Orlando falls back to 28th in the NBA in third-quarter shooting (40.7 percent) and 20th in fourth-quarter shooting (40.8 percent).
“Typically, when you feel like you’ve turned a corner is when something happens during a season where you win eight of 10 or you’re playing really well 10 out of the 11 games... maybe you didn’t win them all,” Skiles said. “Now we’re still in kind of a middle ground of doing some things well and doing some things not well enough.”
Mario Hezonja leads all rookies in 3pt percentage (minimum 15 attempts).
Magic are 7-0 against the Wolves in their last seven meetings in Orlando.
Minnesota is 5-1 on the road this season.
Wiggins has also been better on the road, averaging 23.5 points while hitting 45.5 percent from the field. He's scoring 17.0 points per game at home and making just 37.9 percent of his field-goal attempts.
Top Magic performers at HOME this season:
Tobias Harris: 19 pts on 13 fga (51% fg, 44% 3pt), 9.8 rebs, 2.6 ast, 1 stl
Nikola Vucevic: 17.5 pts (56% fg), 7 rebs, 2.3 ast, 2.3 blk, 1.5 tov
Victor Oladipo: 14.8 pts (37% fg), 8.3 rebs, 4.8 ast, 1.75 stl, 1.8 tov
Tobias Harris, his mother Lisa and their teammates from the Second Harvest Food Bank won the first Magic Fit Kid Chef Celebrity Showdown. The winning team was chosen based on who prepared the healthiest and tastiest meal. Team Harris arranged a meal that consisted of grilled chicken, shrimp, wheat pasta, vegetables and a spinach-based smoothie. Oladipo, Payton, Watson and their moms also participated.
