Charlotte Bobcats have lost 11 straight games
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Orlando Magic are beginning to learn how to close out games.
That’s a lesson the Charlotte Bobcats have yet to master.
Glen Davis and Arron Afflalo each scored 20 points and Orlando outscored Charlotte 15-5 in the final 3:34 to hand the slumping Bobcats their 11th straight loss Saturday night, 107-98.
Jameer Nelson added 16 points and six assists and J.J. Redick had 14 points, including a big 3-pointer down the stretch for the Magic, who’ve won three of their past four. Nikola Vucevic was a force inside the paint with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
“This is a new team and we’re still finding each other,” Davis said. “As a team, we’re learning and this was a game where we learned from our past experience.”
Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said his team is showing better composure down the stretch.
“Our huddle was composed, the players were composed and I think it showed on the floor,” Vaughn said. “It was great to see and great to see the process and our guys improving.”
It helped that the Magic scored 60 points in the paint on 30 of 45 shooting.
“We were just being aggressive,” Davis said. “With me down there scoring some points and Arron and Jameer making things happen, it kind of set the tone for our play. And we were able to control the paint.”
The Orlando win overshadowed a career-high 32 points from Kemba Walker.
Charlotte’s second-year point guard was 11 of 19 from the field.
He also had seven assists.
“I’m trying to get better,” Walker said. “That’s all you do at this point. I’m just doing whatever I can do to help my team win basketball games. No matter how many points I have I really don’t care about that stuff. I’m just trying to win. It wasn’t enough tonight.”
Walker, Charlotte’s first-round pick a season ago, has excelled this season, particularly at home where he came in shooting 45 percent and averaging 20.4 points per game; compared to 32 percent and 12.4 points per game on the road.
Nelson, for one, walked away impressed.
“He’s a great young player,” Nelson said of Walker. … [For more on Charlotte Bobcats have lost 11 straight games, click here.]
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