Dwight Howard just wants to win, according to him. It remains to be seen if he stays in Orlando, but games like the Magic’s previous outing won’t be very convincing for the best center in the NBA.
With the trade deadline approaching, Howard and the Magic suffered their worst loss of the season when they allowed Charlotte — the worst team in the league — to turn a 20-point deficit into a 100-84 win.
The Magic (25-15) now have the daunting task of regrouping against the best team in the league as they take on the Chicago Bulls (33-8) on Thursday in the first game of the TNT doubleheader.
Orlando caps a three-game road trip before facing stiff competition over the next six games: the Heat twice, Bulls, Pacers, Spurs and Nets. Whether Howard is still in a Magic uniform when they face New Jersey on March 16 – a day after the trade deadline – remains the biggest question.
After playing four of the past five games on the road, Derrick Rose and the Bulls begin a stretch of six games at the United Center, where they are 15-2 on the season.
Whether at home or on the road, Chicago has dominated all season and looks to extend its season-high eight-game winning streak with its second victory in as many meetings with Orlando this season. Last season, the Bulls won three of four, taking the season series for the first time since the 2005-2006 campaign.
The Bulls are the best rebounding team in the league and are 26-2 on the season when they out-rebound their opponent. Chicago is also 19-0 when it holds opponents to less than 90 points.
Rose has struggled with his shot over the past two games, shooting just 13-of-38 from the field. But in Wednesday’s 106-104 win at Milwaukee, he provided an exhilarating game-winning jump shot .