An Orlando Magic franchise mostly ignored nationally last season as it blossomed into an NBA powerhouse is about to get a major shot of national exposure.
The Magic have been chosen by the NBA to host the New Orleans Hornets and star point guard Chris Paul on Christmas Day, FLORIDA TODAY has learned. The game likely will take place at night and will be televised nationally by either ABC, ESPN or TNT.
The NBA won't officially release its 2008-09 schedule until next week and the Magic would not officially confirm or deny the Christmas Day game. But an NBA source revealed that the Magic and Hornets would be a part of the NBA's package of games on Christmas.
The Web site, neworleans.com, first reported the story on Wednesday.
The Magic also will face the rival Miami Heat in an exhibition game on Oct. 18 at Jacksonville's Veterans Memorial Arena, FLORIDA TODAY learned. The entire preseason schedule will be released later this month.
Christmas Day games often are an extension of the NBA's powerful marketing arm, and the league has used the holiday to showcase star players such as Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Steve Nash and Dwyane Wade.
This game will be no different with Orlando franchise center Dwight Howard squaring off against Paul. Both were first-team All-NBA selections last season and they are teammates now on Team USA's Olympic basketball squad.
Like the Magic, the Hornets are considered one of the NBA's best young teams. New Orleans had the second-best record in the rugged Western Conference last season (56-26) and eliminated Dallas in the playoffs. The Hornets signed free-agent forward James Posey away from the Boston Celtics this summer.
Orlando won 52 games, captured the Southeast Division crown and advanced to the second round of the playoffs -- all firsts for the franchise since 1996.
Orlando appeared on national television just three times during the 2007-08 regular season. That number should increase dramatically this season following the explosion of Howard's star power and Orlando's rise as an Eastern Conference power.
