Magic look to finish season on high note, reach buyout agreement with Glen Davis

With the Orlando Magic playing their best basketball of the season, the team now faces a big test when they open up the final half of the season.

The Magic won three out of four games heading into the All-Star break, wins that came against the Pistons, Thunder and Pacers. Now the Magic face an uphill battle as they play six of their next seven games on the road, where they have won just three games all season.

Many players on the team attributed their recent success to playing confidently; something they hope can help them play better on the road.

“We’re more confident now that we beat two of the best teams in the league; and we played Memphis pretty well,’’ said Magic center Nikola Vucevic. “I think guys are more confident that we can do it. It’s just about us doing it over and over again and playing the right way the whole game.’’

Forward Tobias Harris said the team’s opening games after the All-Star break are important because they’ll set the tone for the rest of the season. “Certain games of the season are really important for a team, and I believe that first game after the All-Star break can set a tone in how we want to play,’’ said Harris.

The Magic can use the rest of the season to showcase to the league that they’re better than their 16-40 record indicates.

As it stands now, the Magic have the third-worst record in the league and will have a high lottery pick in this year’s draft.

Victor Oladipo continues to grow

One last storyline to watch during the final 28 games is the development of rookie guard Victor Oladipo. The Magic have experimented by using Oladipo at the point guard position, and his natural position of shooting guard. Magic head coach Jacque Vaughn said he has seen some good things from Oladipo at both positions.

“I think when we talked about what Victor was, we said he was a guard, and I don’t think we’ve changed from that,” said Vaughn. “We’ve seen him bring the ball up at the one position and play off the ball and we’ve seen some good things both ways. I don’t think we’re at a position where we’re forced to say, ‘you’re only going to do this in the course of the game.’ I don’t think as an organization that’s where we want to be.”

Spring cleaning

The Magic parted ways with forward Glen Davis, announced general manager Rob Hennigan Friday, that the team had agreed on a buyout for the remainder of Davis’ contract.