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From Orlando Sentinel

The Magic lose another one at Amway

Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer
10:22 AM EDT, April 7, 2008

The real question after it was all over wasn't about whether Hedo Turkoglu should have used his 6 feet and 10 inches to shoot rather than drive. It wasn't whether Dwight Howard should see a hypnotist for his wayward free-throw shooting. And it wasn't whether the NBA should investigate just what 39-year-old Darrell Armstrong really put in his coffee before the game, although it's a thought.

No, the most pertinent question after the Orlando Magic blew a 13-point fourth-quarter lead in a 96-95 loss to the New Jersey Nets Wednesday night at Amway Arena was: When the heck are the Magic getting out of town?

And: Do they need rides to the airport?

Magic fans have nothing against their team, but home is not where the club's heart is.

It goes against common sense that the Magic play like the road team at home and the home team on the road. They also turn logic on its ear by executing better when they're behind than when they're ahead.

"We have to fight our way out of not having as much fight at home as we do on the road," Coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We get a lead and we soften up and look at the scoreboard, so we need to find an answer for that. The team that deserved to win won."

The Magic, 15-5 out of the city limits, fell to 7-7 at home.

Daytona Beach native Vince Carter's two free throws gave the Nets (15-16) the final lead with 25.2 seconds left to complete a 30-18 fourth-quarter run on almost 60 percent shooting. But it was the homecoming of Armstrong that was a bigger factor (former Magic coach Brian Hill, a Nets assistant, also enjoyed the night).

Armstrong, who turns 40 in June, rolled back the clock to remind longtime Magic fans what they had seen for nine seasons: Basketball's version of Charlie Hustle.

The little-used Armstrong lifted a lifeless Nets team, sparking a 48-point bench effort with a season-high 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting while hounding Magic guards. He stopped by the Magic's pre-game media meal for his usual cup of coffee, extra sugar.

"Darrell was like their energy boost," guard Keith Bogans said.

Without Armstrong's relentlessness, the Nets wouldn't have been around so Jason Kidd and Carter could strip Turkoglu of the ball before he could put up a game-winning drive in the closing seconds.

Van Gundy left the game in Turk's hands. He had hit a game-winning shot in Chicago on Monday and had given Orlando a 95-94 lead against the Nets with 31.1 seconds left before Dwight Howard fouled Carter.

Van Gundy, though, figured Turkoglu "would get in position to raise up over Kidd, but he decided to drive the ball, drove it into traffic and that was it."

Turkoglu said, "I guess it was too crowded down there and I couldn't finish it up."

All the Magic starters scored in double figures, led by Turkoglu's 23 points. Carlos Arroyo (16 points, seven assists) started his third consecutive game at point guard and will keep the job over Jameer Nelson.

Carter led the Nets with 18 points, but it was four bench players who scored in double figures that did in the Magic.

Howard, foul-plagued early, saw his 20-rebound streak end at three games. He finished with just 10 rebounds and 13 points, but it was his 3-of-10 debacle at the free-throw line that haunted a one-point loss.

The Magic's next game is home Friday night against Houston. As Magic fans can tell you, they then hit the road for a four-game trip, where they do their best work.

Copyright © 2008, Orlando Sentinel

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