Matches the double Trevelin Queen posted earlier this season for Osceola Magic
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Mac McClung has been named the NBA G League Player of the Week. He's averaged over 33 points per game the last three games as the Osceola Magic push for a top NBA G League playoff seed. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS
Wednesday: The Osceola Magic defeated the Iowa Wolves, 142-124, at the Silver Spurs Arena Wednesday night, securing a first-round bye in the NBA G League playoffs with the win. It was a bounce-back from a loss to Iowa Monday where the Magic turned the ball over 24 times.
Mac McClung scored a game-high 33 points and seven rebounds on 61% shooting from the field and 50% from three-point range.
“We came with a different intention,” McClung said. “That loss woke us up; it showed us that you can lose to anyone in the G League. It's time for us to lock in. We're focused on getting the first seed. We have a lot of great players on this team, and everyone knows how to step it up.”
The Magic led Iowa (7-25) 82-56 at halftime and held the lead the entire game after an early 3-2 advantage by the Wolves. Osceola went 15-17 from the free-throw line and shot 50.5% from the field. Seven Magic players scored in double figures. Kevon Harris had 23 points and eight rebounds on 61.5% shooting in the victory.
“It started with our approach in the last game,” Harris said. “We looked at their record and underestimated them. Today, we wanted to come out and make a statement. It's significant to secure the bye in the playoffs. There's a culture change happening in Osceola and Orlando.”
A Magic win Friday or Saturday at home against the Indiana Mad Ants (a playoff team fighting for home court and higher seeding) secured the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, a home playoff semifinal game and home-court advantage in the best-of-3 championship series.
Tuesday: The NBA G League announced Tuesday that McClung has been named the G League’s Player of the Week for his play in two road games last week. It marks the second time that McClung has won the league’s top weekly honor in his career, and becomes Osceola's second honoree -- Trevelin Queen's won it twice this year.
McClung scored 64 points in wins at the Birmingham Squadron, including a double-double (24 points and 11 assists) in a 142-118 win Tuesday that clinched a playoff spot, and a career-high 40 points on 15-of-20 shooting and 6-of-9 from beyond the arc in a 168-133 win Thursday that set a franchise record for team scoring in a game.
McClung, the two-time defending NBA Slam Dunk Champion (HE DUNKED OVER SHAQ!!!) , McClung is averaging team highs (25.5 points, 6.8 assists) in 25 games and has scored in double-figures in all 25.
Monday the Magic started a four-game home stand to close the regular season. Working to get a No. 1 (or 2) seed in the G League Eastern Conference that would get Osceola a first-round bye in the playoffs, which start next week, McClung kept a hot hand, scoring 37 points, but the Magic fell to the Iowa Wolves, 136-128 Monday. The team will try to get revenge tonight (Wednesday) again against Iowa before hosting the Indiana Mad Ants, who are also in the thick of the playoff fight, on Friday and Saturday.
