Dennis Neumann and Richie Adubato will answer the Magic Radio Internet question of the night during every game this season. E-mail your question to MagicRadio@orlandomagic.com. E-mailers could win a chance to sit courtside at a Magic home game with Dennis and Richie!
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | F | |
| MAGIC | 30 | 37 | 33 | 21 | - | 121 |
| HORNETS | 14 | 27 | 23 | 22 | - | 86 |
Recap:
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- Ryan Anderson scored 22 points to help the Orlando Magic remain unbeaten in the preseason with a 121-86 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday night.
Mickael Pietrus had 19 points for Orlando (5-0) and teammate Vince Carter scored 13 of his 18 points in the first quarter in the game played at Wichita State's Koch Arena.
David West led New Orleans (1-3) with 14 points while Chris Paul added 13.
The Hornets cut into a 26-point halftime deficit as West scored six points in a 9-0 run that brought them within 69-52.
That's when Anderson took over, hitting four 3-pointers and scoring 16 points in a 3 1/2-minute stretch that pushed the Magic's lead back to 87-57.
Anderson, who came to the Magic in the trade that brought Carter from the New Jersey Nets, finished 6 of 9 from 3-point range.
"That was fun,'' Anderson said. "It's always fun when you're feeling it, but when the guys got me open and the crowd got into it, it was great.''
The Magic shot 60.9 percent from the field and 63.3 percent from the 3-point line. Orlando's biggest lead was 104-64 on a 3 by Carter early in the fourth quarter.
"People keep calling (Anderson) the other guy in the Vince Carter trade,'' Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said, "and when I told you guys (in the media) he was a big part of the thing, you rolled your eyes. But he fits the way we play. Our team is built inside out, and you can't leave him open.''
Led by Carter going 4 of 6 from the 3-point line, Orlando took control of the game with its long-range shooting in the first half. The Magic were 9 of 13 on 3s in the first half, while New Orleans was 3 of 10. That helped Orlando twice build its lead to 30 points in the first half.
"He's getting more and more comfortable,'' Van Gundy said of Carter.
Paul scored four points, all from the free-throw line, in nearly 15 first-half minutes.
"We've got to get better defensively,'' New Orleans coach Byron Scott said. "Communication is the key.''
Back to top
Preview:
The undefeated Orlando Magic (4-0) will get their first back-to-back test this preseason when they travel to Wichita, Kansas to battle the Hornets (1-2) at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy has made it no secret that he’s been disappointed with his team’s defensive focus over the better part of the preseason.
As a result, the team spent a large portion of its practice sessions over the weekend focusing on individual and team defense.
Orlando will need to bring plenty of energy on the defensive end if it hopes to slow down Hornets All-Star point guard Chris Paul.
“Chris is arguably the best point guard in the league, definitely top two or three,” J.J. Redick said of Paul. “He makes that team go. He’s a franchise player.”
The Magic’s own All-Star point guard, Jameer Nelson, knows limiting Paul won’t be an easy task.
“You have to stay in front of him as best you can,” Nelson said about the challenge of defending Paul. “And rely on your help defense when you need it.”
After going against the New Orleans Hornets, the Orlando Magic will get the rest of the week off before heading to Chicago next Monday to take on the Bulls.
Back to top
LAST GAME'S HIGHLIGHTS:
Back to top
Game Notes:
Oct. 13 @ New Orleans – Wichita, KS (PRESEASON): Orlando is 30-33 vs. New Orleans (18-14 at home, 3-4 at New Orleans, 1-1 at Oklahoma City, 8-14 at Charlotte) during regular season action…The teams split 1-1 last season...Orlando is 5-5 all-time during the preseason vs. the Hornets…Orlando is 1-3 vs. the Hornets in the playoffs (2002 first round)...The Magic have won six of the last 10 meetings between the two clubs...Orlando has won five of the last nine matchups at home and have split the last four meetings in New Orleans…On Mar. 26, 2003 @ New Orleans, the Magic overcame a 20-point deficit and recorded a 97-95 win, tying for the fourth-largest comeback in franchise history…Brandon Bass attended Capitol High School in Baton Rouge, LA, played two years at LSU and spent his first two NBA seasons with the Hornets (2005-07)…Assistant GM Dave Twardzik was director of scouting and director of player personnel for the Hornets while they were in Charlotte from 1990-95.
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. HORNETS: 46 pts., Shaquille O’Neal (@ Charlotte, 11-9-94)
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. MAGIC: 40 pts., Jamal Mashburn (@ New Orleans, 3-26-03); Glen Rice (@ Charlotte, 2-17-97)
Back to top
