Timberwolves vs Magic

Mo Bamba and Austin Rivers got into it by the Magic bench.

Orlando comes into Friday's contest playing the third of four straight road games after back-to-back matchups with the 76ers in Philadelphia.

“A lot of guys want to kind of be in the shadows with it. “Not everybody has the confidence at the end of the game to make a play and to want to make the play, too,” Russell said, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Reid filled in for Rudy Gobert, who was a late scratch due to groin soreness, and he both started and finished Wednesday’s win, the latter with emphasis. “We’ve got to continue to shoot the open ones, continue to make passes for each other, continue to be aggressive.” Orlando could not replicate its offensive success in the rematch on Wednesday, collectively shooting 37.9 percent from the floor in a 105-94 loss. Orlando comes into Friday’s contest playing the third of four straight road games after back-to-back matchups with the 76ers in Philadelphia.

The Orlando Magic (20-32) visit the Minnesota Timberwolves (28-26) on Friday night. Action tips off at 8:10 p.m. ET. Below we continue our NBA odds series ...

They are especially strong in the paint and when attacking the basket as they rank eighth in points in the paint (53.7 PPG). After a 35-point performance the last time these teams met, expect Edwards to again have a ton of success against an Orlando team that ranks in the bottom half of the league in points allowed. Gobert is one of the best rim protectors in the league but struggles when he has to leave the paint and follow his man out to the perimeter. The Timberwolves feature a strong offense that ranks in the top 10 in scoring (115.1 PPG). The heavy favorite for Rookie of the Year, Banchero leads all rookies in 20+ games and has a good chance to add to that number tonight against Minnesota’s below-average defense. Edwards has been incredible for the Wolves this season, leading the team with 24.9 PPG while also chipping in 6.1 RPG and 4.6 APG. Banchero leads the team with 20.5 PPG in addition to 6.5 RPG and 3.6 APG. The Magic average the third-most made free throws per game and should see plenty of tries against a Minnesota team who allows the third-most free throw attempts per game. Orlando ranks eighth in defensive rebound rate and should dominate the glass against a Timberwolves team who ranks in the bottom five in both offensive and defensive rebound rate. Orlando remains frisky, but albeit a limited team who is out of the playoff picture. The Magic covered 57% of their games while 52% went over the projected point total. Orlando has lost three of their last four games and sits in 13th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Magic will look to put forth a balanced effort against the Timberwolves, who've won six of their last eight games, on Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

I think we have to make sure that we continue to play with that level of intensity, that sense of urgency, and hang our hat on the defensive end of the floor.” “It’s the best of the best. Since the start of the new calendar year, Minnesota is a stellar 10-2 (.833) at Target Center, tied with the Denver Nuggets for the most home victories in the association during that stretch. Now, it’s up to our offense to do the same as our defense.” “So, I definitely think it’s a confidence booster knowing that we defended a team like (the Sixers) and held them to a certain amount of points. It was an impressive defensive effort, considering the Magic were able to keep it tight on a night where head coach Jamahl Mosley said his team “couldn’t throw it in the ocean.”

Late in the third quarter of Friday night's Timberwolves-Magic game, Orlando center Mo Bamba left the bench and got into a fight with Minnesota guard Austin ...

Mo Bamba comes off Magic bench to confront Austin Rivers of Timberwolves, who throws several punches in brief fight.

Mitchell retaliated by throwing the ball at Brooks and then shoving him. Replays showed Rivers right in front of the Magic bench as play was ongoing at the far end of the court. Minnesota guard Austin Rivers and Magic center Mo Bamba were the initial players involved, and it spilled over to include several others on the court.

Orlando Magic big man Mo Bamba and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Austin Rivers were among five players to be ejected in the third quarter of Friday's game at ...

However, it seems things escalated while Rivers was near the Magic bench. Rivers, who also plays primarily off the bench for Minnesota, is averaging 5.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 42 games while shooting 46.4 percent from the floor and 37.1 percent from beyond the arc. Bamba, 24, is having a respectable season for the Magic, averaging 7.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 39 games (five starts) while shooting 49.8 percent from the floor and 39.6 percent from deep.