Sports
NBA: Mac McClung (Gate City) scores three points in preseason … – Bristol Herald Courier
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Orlando Magic guard Mac McClung (10) drives to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans forward E.J. Liddell (32) and guard Kira Lewis Jr. (13) on Tuesday.
Orlando Magic guard Mac McClung (10) moves the ball down court in the second half of a NBA preseason basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
NEW ORLEANS – Mac McClung’s minutes weren’t in abundance on Tuesday night, but he did make the most of the time he did spend on the court for the Orlando Magic.
The former Gate City High School standout finished with three points, two assists, one rebound and one block as Orlando opened the preseason by notching a 122-105 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
McClung played the first 5:48 of the fourth quarter, the fewest minutes of any of the 18 guys who saw action for the Magic.
He converted a three-point play with 7:49 remaining as he made a tough 14-foot jumper while being fouled by Kira Lewis Jr.
A 6-foot-2 guard, McClung rejected a layup by Jordan Hawkins, assisted on jumpshots by Trevelin Queen and Jett Howard and pulled down a defensive rebound.
McClung is a third-year pro and previously played in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers. He was the G League Rookie of the Year with the South Bay Lakers in 2022 and helped the Delaware Blue Coats win the G League championship in 2023.
Zion Williamson had 12 points, five rebounds and five assists in 16 minutes for New Orleans in the preseason opener for both clubs.
It was Williamson’s first appearance in a game since he injured his right hamstring in Philadelphia last Jan. 2. After missing his first two shots, he scored his first points on a crowd-pleasing, two-handed dunk. He later added a 13-foot running floater, a short turnaround and a layup to go with four free throws.
“He looked good. He’s unstoppable. So, he’s going to do what he wants out there on the court. It’s just a matter of us getting our spacing right, playing with the right pace, tempo, getting stops and getting out and running,” teammate CJ McCollum said. “But he’s going to figure it out. He’s going to be successful. We just got to make sure we continue to push the pace.”
“Obviously, we want our best players to be able to play every night and this is a step in that direction. And it’s an opportunity for the fans to see the work that he’s put in — the work that we’ve put in collectively to try to be better this season.”
The Orlando starters played the first few minutes of the second half. Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 18 points in 19 minutes. Paolo Banchero scored 12, highlighted by his driving, one-handed dunk between Williamson and Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas. Banchero also grabbed six rebounds in 20 minutes.
Eleventh overall pick Jett Howard (Michigan coach Juwan Howard’s son) scored eight points for the Magic, and No. 6 Anthony Black added two points. Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said prior to opening tip that Joe Ingles was getting a veteran night off.
Jordan Hawkins (UConn), who was New Orleans’ top pick (14th overall) this summer, made his first 3-point attempt and finished with nine points on 4-of-14 shooting. Former Ohio State star E.J. Liddell, who was the Pelicans’ second-round pick in 2022 but had a major knee injury missed all of his rookie season, played 17 minutes and scored two points.
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CLEVELAND – Mac McClung got minimal minutes in his second NBA preseason game with the Orlando Magic, but he was efficient when he was on the court.
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Region 1C
Orlando Magic guard Mac McClung (10) drives to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans forward E.J. Liddell (32) and guard Kira Lewis Jr. (13) on Tuesday.
Orlando Magic guard Mac McClung (10) moves the ball down court in the second half of a NBA preseason basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
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