Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic land in Portland for this season’s second contest with the Trail Blazers.
It’s deja vu all over again. Portland has a chance to avenge a November 10 last second loss
in Orlando. In that game, Portland clawed its way back from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit. Victory was within reach when Banchero whipped a dime to Desmond Bane who came off a screen and hit a contested, fallaway winning 3-pointer over Toumani Camara as time expired. It was Bane’s first career buzzer-beater.
That loss was an inflection point. It dropped the Blazers to .500, and it’s been all downhill from there. The victory gave the Magic a winning record, and the team now sits at sixth place in the East.
What you need to Know
Portland Trail Blazers (12-17) vs. Orlando Magic (16-13) – Fri. Oct. 31 – 7:00pm Pacific
Where to watch via antenna or cable: See your options on the Rip City Television Network
Where to stream: BlazerVision in Oregon and Washington; League Pass everywhere else.
Where to listen: Trail Blazers Audio Network
Trail Blazers injuries: Scoot Henderson, Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard, Matisse Thybulle, Blake Wesley Out; Jerami Grant Day-to-day.
Orlando injuries: Colin Castleton, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner Out; Tristan da Silva Day-to-day
Storylines:
Who Will Blink First?
It’s the second night of a back-to-back for each team. The Blazers left it all on the floor in a loss to the Pistons while the Magic lost to the Warriors. Depleted by injuries, Portland has ridden it’s healthy players hard. Deni Avdija has played the fourth most minutes of all NBA players. Toumani Camara is 16th on the list. How long can the Blazers ball this hard?
Like a Home Game
Banchero grew up in Seattle. In February, when Orlando last visited Moda Center, he rented a suite in a Moda Center for family, friends and kids from his old AAU team. He told Marc Spears he loves playing in the Northwest.
“Being able to experience that and feel that while playing on the NBA stage is crazy. And so, when you come back to Portland and I get to see all these familiar faces, it just kind of gives me a homecoming type of feeling and I always look forward to it. It’s always been fun.”
What Others Are Saying:
Ready to Die
Sidy Cissoko we see you. The Portland forward has been leaving it all out on the floor in a series of passionate and provocative performances.
“My dad told me if you don’t play with your heart on the court, you don’t need to play this game,” Cissoko said. “That’s me. If I can die on the court, I will die on the court.”
Orlando Bricklayers
Law Murray’s latest power rankings place the Magic in tenth. (Subscription required)
The Magic have increased their 3-point attempts each month this season, but they have only made 32.9 percent from 3 in December. Paolo Banchero, Anthony Black and Tristan da Silva are all shooting 25 percent from 3 or worse this month. Orlando is an eternally poor shooting team. The good news is that Desmond Bane is comfortable, with all four of his 30-point games this season coming since Black Friday, including his game-winning performance in Utah.
Springing Leaks on the Road
John Schumann ranked the team the league’s 11th best.
Last season, the Magic allowed more than 120 points per 100 possessions just twice before Jan. 1, but they’ve done so six times already this season. All six of those games (including their loss in Denver on Thursday) have been on the road and, overall, they’ve allowed 6.9 more per 100 on the road (115.7, 17th) than they have at home (108.8, third). That’s the league’s biggest home-road differential on defense.
Heavy Hearts
The Magic will play with team chaplain Eddie Cole on their minds. Cole passed away in Florida Saturday morning.
“That was some heavy news, I’m not gonna lie,” guard Jalen Suggs told the Deseret News. “He was so bright. I think that’s what’s most shocking about it, that I can’t really fully understand. He was just so full of life, so full of energy right before we left, pouring into everybody. He was such a light.”
Breaking Out
Orlando rookie Noah Penda recorded his first career double-double in a recent matchup against the troubled Utah Jazz.
Up Next:
The Blazers will be off for Christmas. The team returns to action on December 26 when it will face the Clippers at home.
