Despite Nikola Vucevic’s Career-high 41 Points, Magic Fall Late to Brooklyn

The Orlando Magic suffer their first loss of the season, as the Brooklyn Nets outlast Nikola Vucevic and his career-high 41 points.

By
Victor Tan
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(Photo by David Manning / USA TODAY Sports)
(Photo by David Manning / USA TODAY Sports)

Game Recap

Nikola Vucevic has been in a rhythm early in the 2017-18 season. After posting 19 points and 13 rebounds in the Orlando Magic’s (1-1) season-, home-opening win over the Miami Heat on Oct. 18, Vucevic one-upped himself with a career-high 41 points in a 126-121 loss to the Brooklyn Nets (1-1) at Barclays Center Friday night.

With just 14 seconds to go, Magic shooting guard Terrence Ross came off a Vucevic screen and drained a pull-up three-pointer to make it 122-121. That came after Brookyln’s Trevor Booker went 1-for-2 at the free-throw line to make it just 122-118. That was it for Orlando, though, as the final pass on Orlando’s final chance literally fell short of Vucevic, who paced all players with 18 points from deep.

Coming out of head coach Frank Vogel’s timeout, Magic point guard D.J. Augustin drove baseline and hesitated under the basket before hopping the ball toward Vucevic’s feet. After a pump fake negated the Nets’ defender’s contest, Vucevic elected to pass to Evan Fournier, who was shooting 2-for-6 from three-point range against Brooklyn, in the left corner for a three that careened off the back iron, effectively ending the game.

Vucevic started the game hot, making a single-game high four three-pointers on a perfect 4-for-4 clip for a 21-point first half. With the magic trailing 103-100 midway through the fourth quarter, the sixth-year Magic center entered the game and scored his final nine points on a perfect 4-for-4 clip.

Rookie Jonathan Isaac found an open Vucevic for a 12-foot jumper to cut Brooklyn’s lead to 110-108, but DeMarre Carroll responded with a step-back three-pointer on the ensuing possession with 4:08 to go. That was the beginning of a mini 5-0 run for Brooklyn, as first-year Net D’Angelo Russell scored on a driving layup about a minute later.

In response, Vucevic drained a 13-footer only to have Russell score on another layup. Vucevic then drained his sixth and final three-pointer, a stand-up, contested attempt from the right wing, to make it 117-113, Brooklyn.

Orlando was put in a position to win partially due in part to three of Jonathan Simmons’ points coming at the end of the third quarter. Following an inside-the-paint hook shot by Vucevic, Booker tipped in a missed three-pointer with less than six seconds to go. Simmons then received the inbounds pass, nonchalantly crossed halfcourt and drilled a contested three-pointer to give the Magic a narrow 91-89 lead going into the final period.

Player of the Game: C Nikola Vucevic

Vucevic made just about every shot Vogel and the Magic could ask for. His most crucial miss was a close-range turnaround hook shot with 1:02 left and his team trailing 119-116. The 26-year-old veteran otherwise performed exceptionally in his best game of his career, shooting 17-for-22 from the field and 6-for-8 from deep and recorded 12 rebounds and three assists.

What’s next?

The Magic conclude a two-game road trip in Ohio when they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers for their first back-to-back of the season on Saturday.

Elfrid Payton Leaves Game with Hamstring Injury

Payton left the loss to Brooklyn shortly before halftime after sustaining a left-hamstring strain. He was replaced by a combination of Shelvin Mack and Augustin. Mack played 10 minutes and recorded three points, three assists, one steal and two turnovers. Augustin with 10 points, five assists, two rebounds and one steal, shooting 3-for-5 from the field and 2-for-3 from deep in 23 minutes.

Before Payton left, he had four points, four assists, a rebound, a steal and two turnovers in 15 minutes.

The Magic were already experiencing injury-related lineup difficulties, as forward Aaron Gordon was out with an injured ankle. He had 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks in the win over Miami.

Highlights

NDR Notes

  • Vucevic recorded a career-high four three-pointers in the first half against Brooklyn.
  • Brooklyn scored 32 points in the paint in the first half.
  • Vucevic recorded a new career-high points in points with 41. His previous high was 37.

Scoring

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Brooklyn Nets 29 29 31 37 126
Orlando Magic 27 28 36 30 121

Statistics and Starting Lineups

Team Leaders

Brooklyn Nets Orlando Magic
Points DeMarre Carroll, D’Angelo Russell, Trevor Booker (17) Nikoal Vucevic (41)
Rebounds Trevor Booker (11) Nikola Vucevic (12)
Assists D’Angelo Russell (6) Evan Fournier, D.J. Augustin (5)
Blocks Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (3) Jonathan Isaac, Bismack Biyombo, Aaron Afflalo (1)
Steals Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, D’Angelo Russell (3) Jonathan Isaac, Evan Fournier (2)
Turnovers D’Angelo Russell (8) Jonathan Isaac, Nikola Vucevic (4)
Minutes DeMarre Carroll (28) Evan Fournier (36)

Team Statistics

Rebounds Assists Blocks Steals Turnovers
Brooklyn Nets 48 22 6 13 18
Orlando Magic 40 30 3 9 22

Shooting Percentages

Brooklyn Nets Orlando Magic
FG% 50.0% 50.6%
3FG% 33.3% 54.5%
FT% 71.4% 86.7%

Brooklyn Nets starting lineup: D’Angelo Russell (PG), Allen Crabbe (SG), DeMarre Carroll (SF), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF), Timofey Mozgov (C)

Orlando Magic starting lineup: Elfrid Payton (PG), Evan Fournier (SG), Terrance Ross (SG), Jonathan Isaac (SF), Nikola Vucevic (C)

For more on the Magic, as they look to finish an early two-game road trip in Cleveland on Saturday, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.

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