(Photo: Reinhold Matay via AP)
Regular Season Game 52
Wizards (29-22) at Magic (15-35)
February 3, 2018 at 7:00 PM Amway Center | Orlando, FL
TV: NBCSW Radio: 1500 AM
Odds: WSH -4.0
What to Watch:
Is The Turnaround Complete?
It is easy for the Washington Wizards to get up and play well in games against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors as they are two of the best teams in the NBA. The Achilles heel for Washington has clearly been their record against teams that are sub-.500, which they currently hold a record of 16-11 against. The 11 losses are the most among teams currently in the playoffs and tied for second most in the entire NBA behind Atlanta's 15 losses. The Wizards are all but guaranteed to make the playoffs, but taking advantage of games against lottery bound teams will do wonders for their seeding.
Key Matchup:
Tomas Satoransky vs. Elfrid Payton
On the season, the Magic point guard is not doing anything too impressive with 13.1 points, 6.2 assists, and 4 rebounds a game in 29 minutes, but he has a knack for lighting it up against the Wizards. His lines in two meetings with Washington this season are 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals as well as 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds. Satoransky has played well as a starter in matchups with Dennis Schroder, Russell Westbrook, and Kyle Lowry over the last three games and will have another tough task on Saturday, which Scott Brooks likes to kid is life as a starting NBA point guard where you run a guantlet all season long.
X-Factor:
Does Aaron Gordon Play?
The Magic's leading scorer at 18.4 points per game and rebounder with Nikola Vucevic's absence at 8.3 boards per game may not be able to suit up against the Wizards. The fourth year forward is dealing with a strained left hip flexor that will make him questionable for Saturday's game. If he is unable to go as has been the case for the last two games, the Magic simply do not have the talent available to compete.
Fun Factor:
Does Bradley Beal Finish the Job?
The last time Washington was in Orlando, Bradley Beal and Evan Fournier were not in the post-Thanksgiving spirit.
Prediction:
The Wizards take care of business against the Magic for the third straight time this season.