By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Before the 2019 NBA Playoffs, Nikola Vucevic only recorded three minutes of postseason action with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2012. Seven years later, he made his way back as the Orlando Magic starting center, but only scored 17 points in the two first games of best-of-seven series against the Toronto Raptors. He struggled in the beginning of Game 3 as well, but finished with 22 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Marc Gasol’s foul trouble opened up space for him.
The 28-year-old Montenegrin’s best playoffs match wasn’t enough for “W” on Friday at the Amway Center. “Our turnovers hurt us again. We had too many empty possessions. Against a team like that you can’t have that. Their offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter hurt us as well” he mentioned following the contest.
The Magic now trail the first round series, 2-1. “We feel that we could have won the game. We had the chance” Vucevic said and added ahead of Sunday’s match: “We have to take care of business in Game 4. It’s a big game for us. We don’t want to go to Toronto down 3-1.”
On how his team has to react: “In the playoffs, you just have to leave things behind. Study the game, understand what went wrong and what you can do better.”