Portland faces Orlando on 9-game losing streak

Sun, Mar 31, 2024
NBA News (AP)

Portland Trail Blazers (19-55, 14th in the Western Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (43-31, fifth in the Eastern Conference)

Orlando, Florida; Monday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Portland heads into the matchup with Orlando as losers of nine in a row.

The Magic are 26-12 in home games. Orlando ranks third in the league giving up only 108.3 points per game while holding opponents to 47.2% shooting.

The Trail Blazers are 8-28 on the road. Portland gives up 116.2 points to opponents while being outscored by 9.0 points per game.

The Magic's 11.1 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.7 fewer made shots on average than the 11.8 per game the Trail Blazers allow. The Trail Blazers' 44.3% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.9 percentage points lower than the Magic have allowed to their opponents (47.2%).

The teams play for the second time this season. In the last matchup on Oct. 28 the Magic won 102-97 led by 23 points from Franz Wagner, while Shaedon Sharpe scored 24 points for the Trail Blazers.

TOP PERFORMERS: Wagner is shooting 47.8% and averaging 19.5 points for the Magic. Paolo Banchero is averaging 19.2 points over the last 10 games.

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Deandre Ayton is averaging 15.8 points and 11 rebounds for the Trail Blazers. Dalano Banton is averaging 18.1 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 6-4, averaging 108.3 points, 40.8 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 8.2 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.2 points per game.

Trail Blazers: 1-9, averaging 102.4 points, 41.7 rebounds, 23.3 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.0 points.

INJURIES: Magic: Jonathan Isaac: day to day (hamstring), Gary Harris: day to day (plantar fascia).

Trail Blazers: Anfernee Simons: day to day (knee), Justin Minaya: day to day (back), Malcolm Brogdon: out (elbow), Jerami Grant: day to day (hamstring), Toumani Camara: out for season (rib), Shaedon Sharpe: day to day (abdomen), Robert Williams III: out for season (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.