Backup Augustin gets prominent role

CLEVELAND —

entered the 2017-18 season as the Orlando Magic’s backup point guard, but he’s now one of the team’s most important players.

Augustin will be the Magic’s starting point guard until

returns from a mild-to-moderate hamstring strain. Given that Payton injured his leg on Friday, Augustin could find himself center stage for one week or even longer.

The initial results were positive. Very positive.

Augustin played a nearly flawless all-around game on Saturday and helped the Magic overwhelm the defending Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers 114-93 at Quicken Loans Arena.

In 27 minutes, Augustin scored 12 points and spaced the floor with 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc. He also added four rebounds — an impressive number for a small point guard — and dished out 10 assists as he turned once.

“D.J. played terrific, man,” swingman said. “I thought his shooting helped even more our spacing. I mean, we started getting up some shots from everywhere, man. So D.J. played big. He really got us right as far as passing the ball, distributing the ball. Yeah, he played a helluva game tonight.”

Augustin, 29, entered training camp last month determined to erase the memories of the 2016-17 season when he and the team underperformed. It didn’t help that Augustin was playing for his fourth — fourth! — team since the beginning of the 2014-15 season. Constant adjustments to new X’s-and-O’s schemes and new teammates are difficult even for veterans, and especially for point guards.

He looks more at ease now.

“It’s my second year playing for the same coach, the ball over just the same system, mostly the same teammates,” Augustin said. “So I feel a lot more comfortable knowing what’s a good shot, what’s a bad shot, where to get other guys good shots and not take bad shots. It just feels a lot better this year.”

It’s ridiculously early yet, and regression toward the mean is inevitable, but Augustin has made 62.5 percent of his 3s in the Magic’s first three games. He was at his best against Cleveland.

“He was coach

said. “He plays differently than Elfrid but plays within himself and really just has a confidence about him this year that he didn’t have last year. He was kind of feeling his way around and learning his teammates and all that stuff. He’s playing with great confidence right now.” Augustin and his fellow starters set the tone for Saturday’s win in the first quarter with stellar ball movement and even better shooting.

Orlando took a 33-12 lead late in the period on a 3-pointer by

who finished the period with six points

“We started off the game really well, really sharing the ball, playing hard, making shots,” Fournier said. “Obviously, making great shots helps a lot. Leading by 20 in the first quarter, that gives you a huge edge for the game. But overall, the mentality was great today.”

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Saturday’s win over the Cavaliers was the sixth time in

1,064 career regularseason games that his team trailed by at least 20 points during the first quarter.

“It sets a tone for the whole night,” Vogel said. “That’s the way we’ve been playing, that first group.”