Associated Press
CHARLOTTEó A little over two hours after officially becoming a member of the Orlando Magic, Rafer Alston checked into the game, surveyed the floor and liked what he saw.
“Everywhere I looked, I had a weapon to pass it to,” Alston said after recording eight assists and helping his new team rout the Charlotte Bobcats 92-80 on Friday night.
A day after Jameer Nelson underwent season-ending shoulder surgery and Alston was acquired in a trade with Houston, the Magic toyed with the Bobcats and bounced back from their worst loss of the season two nights earlier at New Orleans to win their 40th game.
Hedo Turkoglu scored 24 points and Rashard Lewis added 18 for the Magic, who seemed to quickly get comfortable with their new playmaker.
The same can’t be said for Charlotte’s backcourt, which was scolded by coach Larry Brown after a dismal performance ahead of a five-game road trip.
Raymond Felton scored 16 points for the Bobcats, but Brown was angry that the point guard took 18 shots, hitting just six. Backcourt mate D.J Augustin was 3-for-11, and Charlotte shot 37 percent.