Fultz-Vucevic combo hitting the right notes
BOSTON — Markelle Fultz kept his dribble alive as Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller and guard Terry Rozier tried to double-team the Magic point guard.
Fultz waited for teammate Nikola Vucevic to roll from his screening position, then took a dribble to his left to create a clearer passing lane. Fultz delivered a one-handed bounce pass that Vucevic caught in stride. The 7-footer quickly turned to his right and put up a 10-foot jumper that found the bottom of the net.
Later, from the post, Vucevic kicked out a pass to Fultz, who knocked down a 3-pointer.
The Fultz-Vucevic combination gave the Hornets fits all night as the Magic posted a 112-100 win Monday night. It ended a four-game stretch during which Orlando failed to reach the 100-point mark.
As Magic coach Steve Clifford seeks diversity and consistency from his offense, he wants his team, more than anything, to move the defense and make the right play when a double-team comes.
The work between Fultz and Vucevic is a good place to start.
Fultz registered a career-high 14 assists during Monday’s victory that snapped a five-game losing streak. He had seven assists in the first quarter and teamed with Vucevic for five of them.
Overall, Vucevic recorded
seven of his 10 field goals on an assist from Fultz.
“That relationship as we go forward here the rest of the year is a key one because if you look at our lineup, that’s one of the ways we can put pressure on the defense,” Clifford said.
Vucevic, for one, is averaging a careerhigh 4.8 3-pointers per game. Part of that uptick started as a concerted effort by Vucevic to shoot more 3s in the wake of his career-best 36.4% effort from behind the arc last season.
“It moves [opponents’] size away from the basket, and it takes better advantage of his passing,” Clifford said.
Clifford said it took Vucevic some time to regain his rhythm after the ankle injury he sustained Nov. 20 in Toronto forced him to miss 11 games. But Clifford is confident Vucevic’s 3-point percentage will keep climbing.
“I think by the end of the year, he can be [shooting] 38 [or] 39[%],” Clifford said.
With Fultz’s ability to get in the paint and Vucevic’s versatility as the screener, Clifford sees more possibilities to attack defenses with the pick-and-roll game between the two.
“Vooch is our most well-rounded screener,” Clifford said. “He can flare for a 3. He can roll. When he rolls, he can finish [at the rim]. He can pass. He’s a terrific decision-maker. And what it does is it puts the guy guarding him in a tougher decision.
“If you know the guy is rolling, it may not be easy, but you know he’s rolling. Everybody knows he’s rolling. But guys that can both flare and roll, it’s a different deal, so somebody like Markelle, who’s so clever with the ball, it puts a lot more pressure on the guy guarding the screener. That’s one of the ways that we can put pressure on the defense and hopefully get the ball going to the rim more.”
Magic on ESPN
When the NBA schedule was released, the Magic’s only nationally televised game was set for March 4 against the rival Heat on ESPN.
The Magic are still getting one nationally televised game, but it won’t be March 4. Instead, Orlando’s game Wednesday in Boston against the Celtics will be broadcast on ESPN. The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m.
The contest also will air on Fox Sports Florida.
In addition, the start time for the March 4 game in Miami has been changed to 7:30 p.m.
Frazier makes history
Magic swingman Melvin Frazier Jr. became the third player in NBA G League history to post 20 points and 10 rebounds in a game without missing a shot during Tuesday’s 121-99 win against the Erie Bayhawks at Erie Insurance Arena.
Frazier, who came off the bench, finished 11 of 11 from the field, including a 3-pointer, and scored 23 points to go with 10 rebounds.
Magic two-way player Vic Law hit four 3s and finished with a game-high 25 points to lead Lakeland, while former Magic point guard Josh Magette also made four 3s on his way to a 20-point, 13-assist performance.
Magette returned to Lakeland on Jan. 18 after being released four days earlier by the Magic. He had previously been on a twoway deal before he signed a 10-day contract Jan. 11 with Orlando.
The Magic released Magette to make room to sign Gary Clark, who is currently on his second 10-day deal.
Lakeland went 15 of 31 from the 3-point line as it won its fourth straight game and improved to 19-13. The team is currently fourth in the Eastern Conference.