Bamba likes Longhorn over Bulldog any day
Texas alum claims UGa was no match for Bevo
MINNEAPOLIS — Orlando Magic rookie center Mo Bamba had to laugh Wednesday night when asked what he thought of Texas mascot Bevo, the Longhorn steer, attacking Georgia counterpart UGa, the Bulldog, prior to the teams’ Sugar Bowl matchup.
Bamba, who played one year of college basketball at the University of Texas, said if the two mascots had not been separated, the Longhorn would have easily won. He added the incident provided perfect foreshadowing of the game between Texas and Georgia at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
“I thought that was awesome,” said Bamba, after scoring 10 points, grabbing six rebounds and blocking three shots in the Mag-
ic’s 112-84 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night. “It explained what would happen in the game pretty well. I mean, what’s a Bulldog to a Longhorn? Come on.
“You saw where the horn was heading and where the dog was.”
When Bamba was told he should have had a photo taken of him and Bevo while he was at Texas to show the 7-foot basketball player’s nearly 8-foot wingspan in comparison to a mature Longhorn steer’s rack width, Bamba responded, “That’s funny.”
Simmons still day-to-day
Magic coach Steve Clifford did not go so far as to say that forward/guard Jonathon Simmons would be available for Friday night’s game at Minnesota, but he did sound optimistic.
The Magic when through a light workout at the Target Center on Thursday morning and Simmons, who missed the past two games with a left ankle sprain, was fully involved in the practice.
“Sim did everything so we’ll see how he feels tomorrow,” Clifford said of Simmons, who had recently started seeing minutes as the Magic’s back-up point guard among the many roles he plays.
He did not play Wednesday night at Chicago and also missed Monday’s game at Charlotte, nursing the lingering effects of the ankle sprain he suffered Sunday against Detroit in Orlando.
“Man I just can’t catch a break right now with these ankles,” Simmons said prior to the Magic’s victory over the Bulls on Wednesday, referring to missing an earlier game this season due to a sprained right ankle.
Simmons injured the ankle — after playing nine minutes and scoring seven points against the Pistons — after landing awkwardly on the foot of Zaza Pachulia.
Simmons had previously injured the ankle during the Magic’s trip to Mexico City, but he played in both games there against the Bulls and Jazz before being held out of the Magic’s first game at Chicago last month.
Wednesday’s game was the fifth game Simmons has missed this season. He previously missed games due to a bruised right wrist (Nov. 20, at Philadelphia), then for personal reasons (Nov. 2, vs. LA Clippers) and a sprained right ankle (Dec. 21, at Chicago).
The 6-foot-6 Simmons, who has been an integral part of Clifford’s rotations this season because of his versatility, has averaged 7.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 21 minutes per game in 32 games played. He has started seven games this year.