The 2011-12 Orlando Magic season was marked by both on-court competitiveness and off-court drama. Under head coach Stan Van Gundy, the Magic finished the regular season with a 37-29 record, securing the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. This season was shortened to 66 games due to a lockout, which affected all NBA teams.
Centrally, the season was defined by the “Dwightmare” saga, as star center Dwight Howard was embroiled in trade rumors and conflicts with management. Howard’s future with the team was a constant point of speculation, overshadowing the team’s on-court achievements. Despite this distraction, Howard delivered strong performances, averaging 20.6 points and 14.5 rebounds per game, enough to earn a spot on the All-NBA First Team.
The Magic’s supporting cast included key players like Ryan Anderson, who won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, and Jameer Nelson, who provided stability at the point guard position. However, the team faced challenges with consistency and depth, especially in the face of Howard’s injury late in the season, which kept him out of the playoffs.
In the postseason, the Magic were eliminated in the first round by the Indiana Pacers, losing the series 4-1. The season concluded with significant uncertainty about the team’s direction, leading to major changes in the offseason, including the departure of both Howard and Van Gundy.
- Regular Season Record: 37-29
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 1-4
Orlando Magic Roster and Stats for 2011-12 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Dwight Howard | 54 | 20.6 | 14.5 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Ryan Anderson | 61 | 16.1 | 7.7 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 39.3 | 5 | 9.6 | 4.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 40.0 |
| Jameer Nelson | 57 | 11.9 | 3.2 | 5.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 37.7 | 5 | 15.6 | 3.8 | 6.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 32.0 |
| Jason Richardson | 54 | 11.6 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 36.8 | 5 | 11.4 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 37.0 |
| JJ Redick | 65 | 11.6 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 41.8 | 5 | 10.8 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 21.1 |
| Hedo Turkoglu | 53 | 10.9 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 35.3 | 5 | 8.4 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 41.7 |
| Glen Davis | 61 | 9.3 | 5.4 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 14.3 | 5 | 19.0 | 9.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| Von Wafer | 33 | 5.9 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 35.9 | 1 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Quentin Richardson | 48 | 4.5 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 34.7 | 5 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 28.6 |
| Chris Duhon | 63 | 3.8 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 42.0 | 5 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 33.3 |
| Daniel Orton | 16 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Earl Clark | 45 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 5 | 4.0 | 6.6 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Ish Smith | 20 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 25.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| DeAndre Liggins | 17 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Justin Harper | 14 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 15.4 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Larry Hughes | 9 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 14.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Orlando Magic in the 2012 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Indiana Pacers
In the 2012 NBA Playoffs, the Orlando Magic faced the Indiana Pacers in the first round. Despite a strong effort, the Magic struggled without their star center Dwight Howard, who was sidelined due to injury. Ultimately, the Pacers won the series 4-1, capitalizing on Orlando's weakened frontcourt and advancing to the next round.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 2012 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 81-77 | |
| Apr 30, 2012 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 93-78 | |
| May 02, 2012 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 97-74 | |
| May 05, 2012 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 101-99 | |
| May 08, 2012 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 105-87 |
Orlando Magic 2011-12 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2011-12 season for the Orlando Magic.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 25, 2011 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | L 97-89 | |
| Dec 26, 2011 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 104-95 | |
| Dec 29, 2011 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 94-78 | |
| Dec 30, 2011 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | W 100-79 | |
| Jan 01, 2012 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 102-96 | |
| Jan 02, 2012 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 89-78 | |
| Jan 04, 2012 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 103-85 | |
| Jan 06, 2012 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 97-83 | |
| Jan 08, 2012 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 104-97 | |
| Jan 11, 2012 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 107-104 | |
| Jan 12, 2012 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 117-109 | |
| Jan 16, 2012 | @ New York Knicks | W 102-93 | |
| Jan 17, 2012 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 96-89 | |
| Jan 18, 2012 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 85-83 | |
| Jan 20, 2012 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 92-80 | |
| Jan 23, 2012 | @ Boston Celtics | L 87-56 | |
| Jan 24, 2012 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 102-83 | |
| Jan 26, 2012 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 91-83 | |
| Jan 27, 2012 | @ New Orleans Hornets | L 93-67 | |
| Jan 29, 2012 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 106-85 | |
| Jan 30, 2012 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 74-69 | |
| Feb 01, 2012 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 109-103 | |
| Feb 03, 2012 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 102-94 | |
| Feb 04, 2012 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 85-81 | |
| Feb 06, 2012 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 107-102 | |
| Feb 08, 2012 | vs. Miami Heat | W 102-89 | |
| Feb 10, 2012 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 89-87 | |
| Feb 11, 2012 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 99-94 | |
| Feb 13, 2012 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 102-89 | |
| Feb 15, 2012 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 103-87 | |
| Feb 17, 2012 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 94-85 | |
| Feb 19, 2012 | @ Miami Heat | L 90-78 | |
| Feb 20, 2012 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 93-90 | |
| Feb 22, 2012 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 108-91 | |
| Feb 23, 2012 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 83-78 | |
| Feb 29, 2012 | @ Washington Wizards | W 102-95 | |
| Mar 01, 2012 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | L 105-102 | |
| Mar 03, 2012 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 114-98 | |
| Mar 05, 2012 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 92-88 | |
| Mar 06, 2012 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | L 100-84 | |
| Mar 08, 2012 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 99-94 | |
| Mar 11, 2012 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 107-94 | |
| Mar 13, 2012 | vs. Miami Heat | W 104-98 | |
| Mar 14, 2012 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 122-111 | |
| Mar 16, 2012 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 86-70 | |
| Mar 18, 2012 | @ Miami Heat | L 91-81 | |
| Mar 19, 2012 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 85-59 | |
| Mar 21, 2012 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 103-93 | |
| Mar 23, 2012 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 93-80 | |
| Mar 26, 2012 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 117-101 | |
| Mar 28, 2012 | @ New York Knicks | L 108-86 | |
| Mar 30, 2012 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 100-98 | |
| Apr 01, 2012 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 104-101 | |
| Apr 03, 2012 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 102-95 | |
| Apr 05, 2012 | vs. New York Knicks | L 96-80 | |
| Apr 07, 2012 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 88-82 | |
| Apr 09, 2012 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 119-89 | |
| Apr 10, 2012 | @ Washington Wizards | L 93-85 | |
| Apr 13, 2012 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 109-81 | |
| Apr 15, 2012 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 100-84 | |
| Apr 16, 2012 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 113-100 | |
| Apr 18, 2012 | @ Boston Celtics | L 102-98 | |
| Apr 21, 2012 | @ Utah Jazz | L 117-107 | |
| Apr 22, 2012 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 101-74 | |
| Apr 25, 2012 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 102-95 | |
| Apr 26, 2012 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 88-76 |
