By Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel –
MINNEAPOLIS — The prognosticators warned there would be nights like Wednesday’s.
Nothing went right for the Orlando Magic against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Plagued by turnovers, errant shooting and a point discrepancy in the paint, the Magic lost to the Timberwolves, 90-75, at the Target Center in a game far more lopsided than the final score indicates.
“We didn’t have the energy level or the effort to win tonight’s game,” shooting guard Arron Afflalo said.
And if it hadn’t been for Afflalo and J.J. Redick?
That might be too discouraging for Orlando’s fans to contemplate.
Playing one night after an emotional loss in Chicago, the Magic made just 35.0 percent of their shots and committed 20 turnovers that led to 19 Timberwolves points.
“It’s tough early in the season,” coach Jacque Vaughn said. “Our guys really put a lot of effort out in Chicago.”
Vaughn expanded his playing rotation — bringing rookie power forward Andrew Nicholson in the first quarter, as well as rookie wing Maurice Harkless, who made his NBA debut late in the first quarter, and finished with seven points and five rebounds in 22-plus minutes.
“We lost, so of course, I’m not happy about it,” Harkless. “I was nervous when I first got out there, but I think I played solid. I could’ve played better. Everybody as a team could’ve played better. But, unfortunately, we lost, and we’ll bounce back next game.”
The Magic (2-2) played without injured starters Jameer Nelson and Hedo Turkoglu, and the team’s inexperience showed against the Timberwolves (3-1).
Magic youngsters Nik Vucevic, E’Twaun Moore and Ish Smith struggled.
They weren’t alone, though.
The Magic struggled from the start.
Their offense lacked fluidity in the first period. The ball bogged down too often, and players forced shots. In all, Orlando made just six of its 21 shot attempts.
Meanwhile, The Timberwolves encountered little resistance from the Magic defense, which also looked out of sync. Every Minnesota starter scored in the quarter. That included second-year power forward Derrick Williams, who revved up the crowd by stealing the ball from Moore and finishing the fastbreak with a powerful dunk to put Minnesota ahead 20-8.
But as bad as the first quarter was, it felt like watching Dream Team I face Dream Team II compared to the Magic’s and Timberwolves’ performances in the second quarter.
The teams didn’t make a basket in the second period until Afflalo hit a jumper with 7:04 left in the half.
Just how discombobulated was Orlando? Consider that the team turned the ball over 13 times in the first half alone.
Afflalo accounted for five of Orlando’s 12 baskets before halftime, and he was the primary reason why the Magic only trailed 38-34 going into the third.
Orlando cut Minnesota’s lead to 38-36 early in the third on a jumper by Josh McRoberts.
Then the Wolves roared right back.
They went on a 15-4 run after McRoberts’ basket — a run that included yet another emphatic slam by Williams.
Minnesota led 53-40 until Redick hit a 22-foot jumper.
Redick made all five of his shot attempts in the third period and scored 12 of Orlando’s 21 first-quarter points.
He finished with 16 points, while Afflalo added 12.
In the closing minutes, Vaughn played Harkless, Moore, Smith, Nicholson and Kyle O’Quinn together.
Three rookies. One second-year player. And one third-year player.
They can only hope their immediate futures won’t have more nights like this.
A matchup Friday against the Brooklyn Nets at Amway Center looms.
“There’s no tricks to it,” Afflalo said. “You get out there and you play harder on Friday.”
