The Orlando Magic seemed to be the feel-good-story of the Eastern Conference before running into a big Dame problem on Thursday night.
Thanks to the help of a courtside ‘heckler,’ Damian Lillard exploded for 34 second-half points at the Amway Center. The mark would be a franchise record for points in a half for the Blazers and helped to outpace the Magic, 128-114.
Aaron Gordon and his friends (Jerian Grant, Terrence Ross, Jonathon Simmons, Mo Bamba) led a 15-9 run to start the fourth quarter, culminated with a 27-foot three-pointer bringing the task to a manageable 102-99 before Dame reentered and brought an 8-0 run with him.