Magic starting SF Hedo Turkoglu expects to play Monday night against the Celtics in Boston after missing the last two games with a back injury.

Turkoglu was injured last Tuesday night in a game against the Charlotte Bobcats. He experienced soreness and spasms that kept him out of games against San Antonio and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Turkoglu said he had regained mobility the last day or two, but still hasn’t run hard up and down the floor. He practiced on Sunday, but the team didn’t go full bore.

The game against the Celtics will be a test for his back.

“You can’t make practice like a game anyway, so why not just go out there and see?” Turkoglu said.

Turkoglu is averaging 14.5 points, 4.9 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Turkoglu and coach Stan Van Gundy won’t know how the veteran’s back will react until he gets on the court and starts to play. He’ll have to face Celtics SF Paul Pierce as well.

“I really don’t know where Turk is at with his back,” Van Gundy said. “He’ll go.”

Van Gundy said if Turk can’t go after warm-ups or he must leave the game at some point, J.J. Redick will start at shooting guard, with Jason Richardson moving to small forward to defend Pierce. G-F Quentin Richardson is also expected to see some time defending Pierce.

Advice for Ainge

Celtics GM Danny Ainge hasn’t ruled out breaking up his Big Three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to improve his team. The Celts, 2008 NBA champions, are 6-9 after beating the Washington Wizards on Sunday.

Van Gundy, tongue firmly planted in cheek, says the sooner the better.

“I’d put a vote in for breaking them up,” Van Gundy laughed, talking about the Celtics after practice. “Move all three. Danny Ainge should get it done today.”

Seriously, Van Gundy still considers the Celtics a “formidable team,” and said the club has been snake bit because of injuries and a tough schedule.

Of the possibility of the Celtics trading any of the Big Three, Van Gundy said, “It’s a tough thing. For Pierce, I’d think it’s even more of a dilemma for them. He’s been through the tough times.”

Layups

Asked to gauge the 11-4 Magic after 15 games, Van Gundy said, “I still think we have a long way to go to get at the level to be contenders. I don’t think that we’ve been consistent on the defensive end. I’m not saying that in a negative way. If we can play consistent defensively to get to that level, we can be contenders, no doubt.”

Howard needs 26 points tonight to overtake Nick Anderson as the Magic’s all-time scoring leader. He has 10,625 points in seven-plus seasons.

Van Gundy said the Magic worked on their pick-and-roll defense and catch-and-shoot defense, hoping to slow Allen and Pierce.

Magic PF Ryan Anderson is making a case to compete in the NBA All-Star Game’s 3-point shooting contest in Orlando. He leads the NBA in 3-point field goals made (49) and attempted (117).

 The Magic play three consecutive back-to-backs: Boston-Indiana, Boston-New Orleans and Indiana-Philadelphia. – Brian Schmitz.

Read More: Dwight Howard (C – ORL), Jameer Nelson (G – ORL), Von Wafer (G – ORL), Orlando Magic, Charlotte Bobcats

The Orlando Magic pulled away from Charlotte Bobcats in the fourth quarter on Tuesday night, winning their fifth straight game 96-89. Dwight Howard led the Magic with another monstrous double-double, pouring in 25 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. Howard has been the center of continuous and rampant trade rumors, but his play, and thus Orlando’s, has not suffered from the outside distractions.

In the backcourt, Orlando got solid contributions from Jameer Nelson and Von Wafer was big off the bench. Nelson finished with 17 points, getting into the lane and to the line to hit six of seven free throws. The former FSU Seminole Wafer added a season-high 13 points.

Orlando now hosts the San Antonio Spurs, who will be coming to town on the second night of a back-to-back after being blitzed by Miami in the second half on Tuesday night.

For more on the Orlando Magic, visit SB Nation’s Magic blog Orlando Pinstriped Post. For more on the Charlotte Bobcats, visit SB Nation’s Bobcats blog Rufus On Fire.

CBSSports.com wire reports
Jan. 17, 2012

ORLANDO, Fla. — With little down time during this fast-paced NBA season, Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy has been anticipating a night when his team had to rely on unconventional methods to stay in games.

Van Gundy’s predictions finally came to fruition Tuesday night against Charlotte as the Magic needed late baskets from unusual suspects and timely defensive stops to preserve a 96-89 win — their fifth straight– over the Bobcats.

Dwight Howard had 25 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Magic, which survived 18 turnovers to win for the 10th time in 12 games.

Jameer Nelson added 17 points, Hedo Turkoglu had 15 and Von Wafer 13 as the Magic won for the 10th time in 12 games. Turkoglu and Wafer each scored eight points each in a decisive fourth-quarter run to help preserve the victory.

“We gotta keep rolling, we gotta keep playing and not think too much into it,” forward Ryan Anderson said of the Magic’s current run. “I think that we’ve beat some really good teams, and just as important we need to keep our heads and really stay focused down the stretch like we did tonight.”

Gerald Henderson had 22 points for Charlotte, which has lost eight of its last nine. The Bobcats are also winless in their last five trips to Orlando.

Charlotte stayed close throughout the game and pulled within a basket late in the fourth quarter before Anderson’s 3-pointer extended Orlando’s lead to 86-81 with 1:33 to play. The Bobcats never got closer.

“We threw the ball away too much,” Bobcats coach Paul Silas said. “We defended Howard very well and then we started going in the lane too much for help, then they kicked the ball out for 3s.

“That was the game right there when they made those shots. But we hung in there. We’re just not there yet, but we’re getting there.”

Henderson agreed with his coach’s assessment.

“We are playing better,” he said. “I think it is at the end of games that we have to lock down and execute. I think we will be better off with experience and kind of have to learn to win.”

Another victory aside, Van Gundy said there is still a lot to work on the defensive end. Charlotte shot 46 percent from the field (36 for 77) Tuesday after coming in shooting just 39 percent in the second half of games this season. Still, he liked his team’s resiliency late in the game.

The Magic also connected on 46 percent of their shots (36 for 78) for the game, but were just 7 for 22 (31 percent) from the 3-point line after hitting at least 10 in four straight outings.

“We’ve relied on our shooting and so when we have a night where offensively we’re not very good and the ball’s not dropping, then we get ourselves into trouble,” Van Gundy said. “We’ve got to be able to rely on our defense, which I think in the second half we did.”

Charlotte went into halftime with a 50-47 advantage after a scrappy first half that included eight ties and seven lead changes.

Both teams shot 48 percent from the field, but the Magic struggled from both the 3-point line (3 for 10) and at the free-throw line (4 for 10). Charlotte was for 4 for 8 beyond the arc and a perfect 8 for 8 from the line, in addition to holding a 22-20 rebounding edge.

The Bobcats benefited from some Magic foul trouble in the opening 12 minutes to take a seven-point lead.

Howard and Turkoglu were forced to the bench after picking up two fouls each less than five minutes into the game.

Without two of Orlando’s starters to deal with Charlotte closed the quarter on a 16-5 run. Henderson led all scorers with eight first-quarter points.

The Magic host San Antonio Wednesday and get a one-day break before the Los Angeles Lakers visit Friday night.

Unconventional or not, Howard said he likes the buzz that is coming out of the locker room right now with tougher games and stretches awaiting them on the schedule.

“Playing some great basketball — just got to keep it up,” Howard said. “We picked it up a little bit. We just have to be consistent and understand that this is going to be a tough season.”

Notes

• Magic G Jason Richardson missed his second consecutive game with a bone bruise in his left knee.
• After playing five games in six days, the Bobcats are off until Saturday when they play at Chicago to begin a stretch of four games in five nights.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)

With little down time during this fast-paced NBA season, Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy has been anticipating a night when his team had to rely on unconventional methods to stay in games.

Van Gundy’s predictions finally came to fruition Tuesday night against Charlotte as the Magic needed late baskets from unusual suspects and timely defensive stops to preserve a 96-89 win – their fifth straight – over the Bobcats.

Dwight Howard had 25 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Magic, which survived 18 turnovers to win for the 10th time in 12 games.

Jameer Nelson added 17 points, Hedo Turkoglu had 15 and Von Wafer 13 as the Magic won for the 10th time in 12 games. Turkoglu and Wafer each scored eight points each in a decisive fourth-quarter run to help preserve the victory.

”We gotta keep rolling, we gotta keep playing and not think too much into it,” forward Ryan Anderson said of the Magic’s current run. ”I think that we’ve beat some really good teams, and just as important we need to keep our heads and really stay focused down the stretch like we did tonight.”

Gerald Henderson had 22 points for Charlotte, which has lost eight of its last nine. The Bobcats are also winless in their last five trips to Orlando.

Charlotte stayed close throughout the game and pulled within a basket late in the fourth quarter before Ryan Anderson’s 3-pointer extended Orlando’s lead to 86-81 with 1:33 to play. The Bobcats never got closer.

”We threw the ball away too much,” Bobcats coach Paul Silas said. ”We defended Howard very well and then we started going in the lane too much for help, then they kicked the ball out for 3s.

”That was the game right there when they made those shots. But we hung in there. We’re just not there yet, but we’re getting there.”

Henderson agreed with his coach’s assessment.

”We are playing better,” he said. ”I think it is at the end of games that we have to lock down and execute. I think we will be better off with experience and kind of have to learn to win.”

Another victory aside, Van Gundy said there is still a lot to work on the defensive end. Charlotte shot 46 percent from the field (36 for 77) Tuesday after coming in shooting just 39 percent in the second half of games this season. Still, he liked his team’s resiliency late in the game.

The Magic also connected on 46 percent of their shots (36 for 78) for the game, but were just 7 for 22 (31 percent) from the 3-point line after hitting at least 10 in four straight outings.

”We’ve relied on our shooting and so when we have a night where offensively we’re not very good and the ball’s not dropping, then we get ourselves into trouble,” Van Gundy said. ”We’ve got to be able to rely on our defense, which I think in the second half we did.”

Charlotte went into halftime with a 50-47 advantage after a scrappy first half that included eight ties and seven lead changes.

Both teams shot 48 percent from the field, but the Magic struggled from both the 3-point line (3 for 10) and at the free-throw line (4 for 10). Charlotte was for 4 for 8 beyond the arc and a perfect 8 for 8 from the line, in addition to holding a 22-20 rebounding edge.

The Bobcats benefited from some Magic foul trouble in the opening 12 minutes to take a seven-point lead.

Howard and Turkoglu were forced to the bench after picking up two fouls each less than five minutes into the game.

Without two of Orlando’s starters to deal with Charlotte closed the quarter on a 16-5 run. Henderson led all scorers with eight first-quarter points.

The Magic host San Antonio Wednesday and get a one-day break before the Los Angeles Lakers visit Friday night.

Unconventional or not, Howard said he likes the buzz that is coming out of the locker room right now with tougher games and stretches awaiting them on the schedule.

”Playing some great basketball – just got to keep it up,” Howard said. ”We picked it up a little bit. We just have to be consistent and understand that this is going to be a tough season.”

Notes: Magic G Jason Richardson missed his second consecutive game with a bone bruise in his left knee. … After playing five games in six days, the Bobcats are off until Saturday when they play at Chicago to begin a stretch of four games in five nights.