The Magic play hard, but lose to Dallas in overtime, 109-103. Grant Hill puts up big numbers in his second game back, helping the Magic break 100 points for the second straight game. Hill finishes with 28 points in 37 minutes tonight. Dwight Howard squeaks out another double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Howard also blocked 5 shots (6 if you count the bad call in the fourth).
In the first half, the reserves kept the Magic in the game. Pat Garrity and Hedo Turkoglu look good off the bench. Both are almost automatic from 3-point range. Mario Kasun played big minutes in the first half, but we missed him in the second half. No minutes for Stacey Augmon - I felt he could have come in for a few minutes in the second half to slow down Dallas.
Down the stretch, I think we could have opened the floor a bit more with DeShawn Stevenson on the floor but coach went with Jameer Nelson. I thought Steve Francis was a little out of control tonight. I think he is still adjusting with Hill in the lineup now. Regardless, the Magic were in the game until the end and you cannot ask for much more. The difference in the game was defense. Dallas did a good job of clogging up the middle and keeping Howard off the glass. Magic were outrebounded 42-34.
I will give the Magic credit for keeping the turnovers down to 10. The turnovers were a definite improvement; let's hope the team can build off this.
