Bolstered by this year’s two new starters, the Orlando Magic revealed a new-found toughness and beat the Los Angeles Lakers 96-94 in the last regular season battle between 2009’s NBA finalists.
Vince Carter magnificently played his role as a scoring threat who can create his own shot from anywhere on the floor—the Magic’s response to the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, the star of the 2009 NBA Finals.
Matt Barnes was Orlando’s enforcer, exchanging physical and verbal jabs with Bryant and providing some key offensive relief by adding ten points and four offensive rebounds in a physical matchup.
Carter fought his way through the lane and to the free throw line, scoring 25 points while shooting 5-of-10 from the field and a precise 13-of-14 from the charity stripe.
Los Angeles had trouble staying afloat during the contest and the team uncharacteristically lost its composure with a technical foul on Bryant in the first half and a flagrant foul on All-Star Pau Gasol late in the second half.
Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Gabriel Taylor