Magic Wins over Bulls with a 3-point Lead | IXGAMES

With the final score of 101-98, it was a hard chase for victory for the Orlando Magic in a close match against the Chicago Bulls.  Nevertheless, Magic remains unbeaten for this year’s preseason games. With barely a minute left, the two teams made a fast run for the lead.  Only 40 seconds were remaining on the clock when Ryan Anderson, playing forward-center, shot a 3-pointer, setting the lead for Magic.  Brad Miller (center) then made a jumper but missed to make it to the scoreboard for Bulls.  Adding to the lead, Dwight Howard (center) then shot two free throws, setting the score at 96-92. In an attempt to close in the gap, Kirk Hinrich (guard) made two points for Bulls with a jumper.  Point guard Jameer Nelson then tried to tie in the score with two free throws.  With only 8.5 seconds left, Hinrich got lucky with a 3 over Howard.  The score was then set at 98-97, with the Orlando Magic still leading with only one point.  Orlando Magic’s Vince Carter (guard-forward) took the lead further with two free throws.  Dwight Howard, one of the leading scorers for Magic, then got a hand in the fourth quarter against Kirch Hinrich.  Orlando then won with a 3-point lead in the preseason game at Chicago. The final score is 101-98. Though he had a rough start, Howard managed to make a total of 18 points for the Orlando Magic.  Aside from hitting the scoreboard, he also played good defense, making 10 rebounds all in all.  He also made 10 out of 17 free throw line shots. Another leading scorer for the game is Ryan Anderson with 18 points.  Orlando Magic’s Vince Carter, who also helped take the lead during the final minutes, scored 17 points. Although they won a close match against the Chicago Bulls, according to Dwight Howard, the preseason play does not mean much.  This is unless they take the same lead and make the same wins for the regular season play.  “It’s just a preseason,” says Howard. For the Chicago Bulls, John Salmons (guard-forward) hit double digits with 19 points, while Hinrich finished with 18.  Salmons was the leading scorer for Bulls in that preseason game.  Though Bulls lost because of the 3-point lead, they did not make it any easier for the Orlando Magic to take away with the win. Since the preseason opener, Chicago Bulls point guard and  Rookie of the Year Derick Rose has been missing in action.  The point guard suffered from an inflamed tendon in his right ankle, making him miss the preseason games and, possibly, the opener, where Bulls will play against San Antonio Spurs. According to Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro, he might not be ready for the opener.  Del Negro is afraid that he might get sore with regular practice, though Rose claims that he will be “playing for sure.”  He says that it is killing him having to miss those games. Meanwhile, Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy opted not to let Rashard Lewis (forward) play, since Lewis will not be in the first 10 games of the regular season.  This is because of Lewis’s suspension by NBA when he tested positive for increased testosterone level.  The Orlando Magic coach apparently had to try other line-ups. During the halftime, Orlando Magic scored a two-point lead, at 47-45.