By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The past seasons have been tough, but Sunday was a very pleasant evening for the Orlando Magic. The road victory against the Boston Celtics didn’t only give them their first Regular Season sweep over the hosts of the 2018-19 contest, but clinched both a postseason ticket and the Southeast title.
Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier definitely left their mark on the first playoffs campaign since 2012 and on Sunday’s game itself. The 28-year-old Montenegrin center notched his 60th double-double of the season with 25 points, 12 rebounds, also tallied four dimes, one steal and two blocks in 34 minutes. The 26-year-old French swingman ended up with 24 points, five boards, three helpers and a couple of steals.
Vucevic touched on the playoffs berth and his previous struggles: “It’s an amazing feeling. Nobody knows what I’ve been through in the last six years here, just through all the losing, the struggling, the doubting. It’s been very difficult for me at times. It paid off in a great way, man, just to come in here in this building and beat a great Celtics team and to make it.”