Orlando @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 23, 2017 ) Orlando 103, Washington 130

The Washington Wizards have struggled at times to put away seemingly inferior teams, a scenario that popped up again with a sloppy loss to the reeling Utah Jazz at home. The Wizards will try to bounce back and earn their first win of a five-game homestand when they host the Orlando Magic on Friday.

The 107-104 loss to the Jazz left Washington - which tied a season high with 23 turnovers - with an 11-10 mark against sub-.500 teams, compared to 12-8 against stiffer competition. "You're not going to win like that," Bradley Beal told reporters while referencing the turnovers and the 61 points allowed in the second half. "That's the game right there." Despite the woes against lesser teams, Washington had no issues in its first meeting with Orlando, topping the Magic 130-103 on Dec. 23 in its best offensive effort of the season. That was part of a 1-15 slide for Orlando, which will be trying to salvage the finale of a three-game road trip.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Orlando), NBCS Washington

ABOUT THE MAGIC (12-30): Orlando had to rely on its reserves for a fourth-quarter push that made Wednesday's 110-103 loss at Milwaukee a bit more respectable, as leading scorer Aaron Gordon was 4-for-18 from the floor and the Magic were outrebounded by 12. "I think we're fighting. I think we're playing hard," coach Frank Vogel told reporters. "We're just not a very good basketball team right now. We got to fight and execute." Gordon and second-leading scorer Evan Fournier - who had 21 points versus the Bucks - both missed the first visit to Washington with injuries.

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (23-18): Washington had three days off following a loss to Milwaukee in the opener of the homestand and opened a 12-point lead on Utah before straying from the game plan. "First quarter, we did a great job coming out with pace and moving the ball," John Wall told the Washington Post. "We got defensive stops. Second quarter, we got away from it. They played with a little more momentum, pace and got out in transition. It was an up-and-down game from there." Wall stuffed the stat sheet against the Jazz with 35 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and three steals while committing eight of the team's 23 turnovers.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Seven Wizards scored in double figures while Magic G Elfrid Payton had a career-high 30 points in the first meeting.

2. Orlando F Jonathon Simmons is 15-for-59 from the field over his last seven games.

3. Wall needs five points to become the fourth player in franchise history with 10,000 for his career.

PREDICTION: Wizards 123, Magic 102