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Osceola Magic center D.J. Wilson, shown here in Thursday's game, got it done on both ends of court Sunday, scoring a game-high 30 points in a 112-89 victory over the Maine Celtics. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS
By Bob Pincus
For the News-Gazette
The Osceola Magic limped into Sunday's game with the Maine Celtics on a three-game home losing streak. But the resilient Magic (8-7) held off the Celtics (9-8), 112-89, in a key NBA G League Eastern Conference game, led by center D.J. Wilson’s 30 points.
Mac McClung, battling a calf injury from earlier in the week, added 12 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds.
“This win is everything,” Wilson said. “Especially in the East where it’s looking so close. One win could be the deciding factor form third place to tenth.”
The Magic started the game sizzling with a 26-16 first period lead. Kevon Harris hit on two 3-pointers to score 8 of his 18 points in the period. Harris added 10 rebounds. Osceola went on a 14-0 run during the first half to take a commanding 34-16 lead. The lead didn’t last long as the Celtics cut the deficit to 52-50 at the half
“Shots didn’t fall in the first half, but we defended like crazy, Osceola coach Dylan Murphy said. “Once the ball started going for us it felt like we got our swag back.”
Murphy emphasized that it is hard to hold a G League team to 16 points in a quarter. He felt the Magic’s defense was excellent throughout the game.
“We knew they were a team that likes to drive and spread it out and shoot threes,” Murphy noted. “It helped that some of their shooters did not have great nights, but we impacted their shots.”
This was a feisty game throughout. Wilson received a technical arguing a potential offensive goal-tending call against the Celtics in the first half. Celtics point guard J.D. Davidson was ejected at the end of the first half for screaming at an official after the buzzer.
Osceola held off Maine efforts in the second half without their starting point guard. The Celtics never got closer than 7 points in the 4th quarter as the Magic pulled away late. Wilson dominated on offense and defense to bolster Osceola’s dominant second half. He added 11 rebounds and 7 assists to his point totals.
“[Wilson] was awesome”, Murphy said. “He shared it, scored it, rebounded it, protected the rim. Everything that we wanted from him. Everything he needs to do to get back to the NBA.”
McClung added about Wilson, “Man that guy is good. He amazes me every day with just how versatile he is. He has so much to his bag. It’s so fun to play with a big that can pass, score in the post, score from the three-point line, and get others involved.”
This win was crucial as the Magic do not play another home game until March 3, after the Silver Spurs Rodeo and Osceola County Fair end. However, this time away includes the G League All Star Game and the NBA Rising Star game that McClung has been invited to play in. The Rising Star game is for the top NBA first and second-year players and seven G League players were invited. Harris and Trevelin Queen have been invited to the G League's G League “Up Next” Game during the All-Star weekend.
“It is a great opportunity,” McClung said of the game. “Just getting that acknowledgement form the G League and the NBA, I don’t take that for granted and was super appreciative.”
Jett Howard (17 points) and Chris Walker (12 points) contributed to the win. Kylor Kelley paced the Celtics with 16 points.
