Currently: - Game info: 8:30 pm EST Sat Jan 1, 2005
- TV: NBATV, CSCH
Turnover-prone teams typically lack consistency.
The Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls are well aware of how sloppy play can hamper a team’s momentum heading into their first meeting of the season.
Orlando has lost two straight and six of eight, with turnovers and poor defensive play proving to be the team’s undoing.
“We’re not playing well and it begins on the defensive end, but it extends to the offensive end and taking care of the basketball,” Magic coach Johnny Davis said. “We’re throwing the ball around carelessly like we’ve never played together.”
Orlando had 23 turnovers in a 111-105 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
The Magic rank near the bottom of the league with 16.3 turnovers per game. They are second in the NBA in scoring at 101.8 a game, but last in points allowed at 101.1. Orlando has yielded an average of 111.8 points in its last six losses.
Steve Francis came within one assist of a triple-double for Orlando on Wednesday with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Grant Hill had 26 points and Cuttino Mobley added 17 for the Magic.
Mobley kept Orlando close with 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting from the field in the first half, including three 3-pointers. Mobley is third in the NBA in 3-point shooting at 49 percent.
Chicago has lost two straight following a five-game winning streak.
The Bulls committed 25 turnovers, 15 in the second half, in an 84-80 loss to the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday. They are averaging an NBA-worst 18 turnovers per game.
“We have a young team that probably is going to be somewhat turnover-prone,” Bulls coach Scott Skiles said. “It’s a team-wide thing. It’s not just one guy.”
Kirk Hinrich led Chicago with 30 points Tuesday. He is averaging 18 points, 6.6 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals in his last 10 games.
Ben Gordon added 19 points off the bench against the Nets. Gordon is averaging 17 points and shooting 56 percent from the field in his last five games.
Chicago has held the opposition to 88 points or less in eight of its last nine games, going 6-3 in that stretch.
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