Aaron Gordon’s Career-high 41 Points Lead Magic to Narrow Win Over Brooklyn

(Photo by Elsa / Getty Images)

Game Recap

ORLANDO, Fla. – For the Orlando Magic, the early-season going has seen two players have career games against the Brooklyn Nets. After center Nikola Vucevic posted a career-high 41 points in a loss in Brooklyn, it was then Aaron Gordon’s turn. Gordon scored a career-high 41 points behind 5-for-5 shooting from three-point range to lift the Magic (3-1) over the Nets (2-2) 125-121 Tuesday night at the Amway Center.

Brooklyn point guard D’Angelo Russell made it a one-possession game when he made all three of his free throws he earned from a Terrence Ross foul. Trailing 120-118, DeMarre Carroll made it a one-point game on a 22-foot jumper with 48 seconds remaining. Gordon’s fifth and final three-pointer with 36 seconds on the clock and the ensuing Russell turnover effectively sealed the victory for Orlando, as Evan Fournier made both his free throws for the final score.

Gordon seemed poised for a big game after missing the previous two games because of an ankle injury. In his second game of the season, Gordon started with a 24-point, seven-rebound first half, shooting 9-for-11 from the field, as both teams entered halftime tied at 61.

Brooklyn took a near double-digit lead in the third quarter, out-scoring the Magic 35-26. The Nets’ go-ahead effort was spurred on by an early-of-the-quarter, 19-7 run that was patiently earned through free throws and jump-shooting.

Orlando, though, returned the favor with a 38-25 fourth quarter and the win. Trailing 96-87, the Magic started their run early and came within three by the 6:27 mark after a D.J. Augustin three-pointer. Free throws by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Jarrett Allen made it a 110-104 game, but Evan Fournier, who finished with 28 points on 9-for-15 shooting, hit a three, and Vucevic added two more to make the score 110-109, Brooklyn.

From there, the score was back-and-forth, with Orlando climbing to a four-point lead with 1:28 to go before Russell’s three free throws.

Player of the Game: F Aaron Gordon

On paper, Gordon was ineffective and inefficient in the 116-109, season-opening win over the Heat, as he shot 4-for-13 from the field. In his return after a short injury hiatus, Gordon had the best game of his career, as he shot 14-for-18 from the field and 8-for-10 from the free-throw line while collecting 14 rebounds (four offensive). He had five of the Magic’s eight three-pointers, accounting for their only four at the beginning of the fourth.

What’s next?

The Magic will host the San Antonio Spurs on Friday at 7 p.m.

Highlights

NDR Notes

• The Magic had their second 41-point scorer of the season, as Vucevic had his 41-point game against the Nets, too.
• At 3-1, Orlando is off to its best start through four games since the 2011-2012 season when the Magic also started 3-1.
• Point guard Elfrid Payton was still sidelined for the game because of a hamstring injury he sustained in Brooklyn. In his stead, Augustin started again and recorded 19 points, six assists and three steals on 5-for-8 shooting and 8-for-8 shooting from the free-throw line.

Scoring

Statistics and Starting Lineups

Team Leaders

Team Statistics

Shooting Percentages

Orlando Magic starting lineup: D.J. Augustin (PG), Evan Fournier (SG), Terrance Ross (SG), Aaron Gordon (PF), Nikola Vucevic (C)

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