Washington @ Orlando preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 13, 2019 ) Orlando 90, Washington 100

The Orlando Magic got off to a slow start but finally got the offense to click into gear and ripped off three wins in the last four games. The Magic will try to keep up with a team that rarely has trouble scoring when they host the Washington Wizards on Sunday.

Orlando averaged 95.1 points during a 2-6 start but pushed that number to 110.8 over the first four of the five-game homestand, including a 111-109 triumph over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. "That was a good win. ... I mean, that's probably the best win that we've had so far," Magic coach Steve Clifford told reporters. "A lot of guys played well and it's good to win a close game like that. It's also the first time that we’ve won two in a row and hopefully we can build upon that on Sunday." The Magic will have to score plenty to keep up with the Wizards, who went over 130 points in each of the first two games of the road trip and are coming off a 137-116 triumph over Minnesota on Friday. Star guard Bradley Beal scored 44 points in each of the last two games and added 10 assists in Friday's triumph.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, FS Florida (Orlando)

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (3-7): Washington is looking to improve its defense and was pleased with the second-half effort at Minnesota, when it held the Timberwolves to 43 points. "I got upset at myself because I told coach (Scott Brooks) I would set the tone defensively," Beal told reporters. "I feel like in the first half I failed at that and we failed as a team. We gave up 73 points or whatever it was. In the second half, it was totally different. We got out and got stops. I just wanted to be aggressive, try to get a lead and create some space and some distance." The Wizards got a big boost on Friday from second-year forward Moritz Wagner, who enjoyed a breakout game with career highs of 30 points and 15 rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench.

ABOUT THE MAGIC (5-7): Orlando's offensive improvement coincides with an uptick in production from shooting guard Evan Fournier, who was held to single digits in back-to-back losses at Dallas and Oklahoma City before averaging 20 points on 54.9 percent shooting over the four straight contests at home. "I have confidence in my work," Fournier told the team’s website. "It’s still early, but I have a better idea of where my shots are going to come from and it’s easier to just work on those shots. I'm understanding the offense better, and it’s helping me." Reserve shooting guard Terrence Ross provided a boost in two games since returning from a knee injury with an average of 16.5.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Magic PF Jonathan Isaac (ankle) sat out Friday but returned to practice on Saturday and is probable to return.

2. Wizards SG Troy Brown Jr. is 8-of-12 from the floor over the last two games.

3. Washington took three of the four meetings last season with Beal averaging 24.5 points in the four meetings.

PREDICTION: Magic 121, Wizards 116