Magic defeat Timberwolves, five players score double digits
April 6, 2014
The Orlando Magic used a big fourth quarter run to put away the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night in front of an announced crowd of 16,992. Five Magic players scored in double figures in the 100-92 win, including 14 points and 13 rebounds from center Kyle O’Quinn.
O’Quinn bounced back from a below-average performance on Friday night after scoring 10 points on 5-of-20 shooting from the field.
“I wanted to see how I would respond from last night,” said O’Quinn. “It was a rough night for me. I wanted to bounce back for myself but for the team; [I] wanted to get a win. Things were coming my way [tonight] and we were all just playing together and we got the result that wanted.”
The Magic outscored the Timberwolves by 13 points in the final quarter to help them pick up the win. Magic Head coach Jacque Vaughn said the team’s disciplined play in the second half helped get the team back in it.
“I think they were more disciplined,” said Vaughn. “You take one of the first possessions in the second half, they tried to pump fake us and this time we stayed down on it and they shoot a jump shot and we get a rebound – that didn’t happen in the first half.”
The Magic were able to overcome 23 turnovers in the game to pick up the win, which came against a Timberwolves team that didn’t have leading scorer Kevin Love. Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman said after the game that the severity of Love’s back injury is unknown.
Magic forward Tobias Harris, who helped lead the comeback in the fourth quarter with six points and five rebounds, credited the team’s second unit for coming into the game with energy.
“I think most importantly our energy and making plays and momentum was going our way and the crowd was getting excited,” said Harris. “Its energy and it takes it out of the other team and I think that happened tonight.”
Vaughn was impressed with that second unit, which featured Kyle O’Quinn, Tobias Harris, Victor Oladipo, Doron Lamb and E’Twaun Moore.
“Those five players huddled themselves out there without the coaches or anything and they were ready to play,” said Vaughn. “They probably talked about how hard they were going to play and playing for each other. That’s what it’s about.”
The Magic have the next three days off before facing the Brooklyn Nets at the Amway Center on Wednesday.