Agitated Augmon sprays reporters with lotion

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-spt-magicgamer031405,1,7321877.story?coll=orl-magic&ctrack=1&cset=true

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A night of frustration ended with a player on the home team booting the ball into the seats at TD Waterhouse Centre.

A fitting conclusion to an embarrassing display -- off the court and on -- by the Orlando Magic, who kicked away a game they needed to win Sunday night.

Whipped 98-82 by the New Jersey Nets, the Magic committed 20 turnovers, were whistled for three technical fouls and squandered a chance to halt a losing streak before leaving today on a telltale road trip.

The Magic's meltdown also included three on-court altercations -- one that could result in a Magic player being suspended -- and a locker-room confrontation between veteran Stacey Augmon and several Orlando reporters.

Orlando (31-31) lost its fourth consecutive game and dropped to .500 for the first time this season. They head out West with a 10-22 road record that doesn't bode well for their playoff plans.

The Magic only showed toughness when they got into extracurriculars with the Nets.

Magic guard Steve Francis was ejected late in the fourth quarter after picking up technical fouls No. 17 and 18, shoving Nets center Nenad Krstic. Krstic and Magic rookie Dwight Howard were T'd up after a pushing match.

Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu and Nets guard Zoran Planinic literally were butting heads until an official pulled away Turkoglu with 1.1 seconds left.

Orlando reserve center Tony Battie, thinking the game was over when the shot-clock horn sounded, walked onto the floor as officials were separating players, and could be suspended for a game. According to NBA rules, any player leaving the bench area during an altercation is subject to punishment.

Magic guard DeShawn Stevenson also might receive a one-game suspension for kicking the ball nearly into the upper deck at game's end. Ever since the brawl between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers, the NBA is sensitive to any incident involving fans.

"I have no idea why he reacted that way. Maybe just frustration, but you can't allow yourself to do that," Magic Coach Johnny Davis said. "The game was basically over and we got an old-fashioned whipping and that you have to accept.

"You don't like it . . . the time to do something about it is while the game is in progress -- not postgame."

Augmon took exception to a question posed by a reporter to Francis. He then confronted another reporter and sprayed several of them with lotion. He had to be restrained by Magic public relations director Joel Glass.

Ironically, Augmon is the only player who refuses to be interviewed by the media.

Oh, the game.

Vince Carter looked revived for the Nets, scoring 33 points. Former Magic guard Jacque Vaughn, never known for his aim, hit 11 of 17 shots for 22 points. Jason Kidd recorded his 65th triple double with 14 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds.

Magic forward Grant Hill, returning after a three-game absence because of a lower left shin bruise, and Turkoglu scored 23 points apiece. Howard, plagued by early foul trouble, managed just two points and eight rebounds.

The Nets came in 27-36 and having played Saturday night, pounded by the Miami Heat 90-65. But Shaquille O'Neal obviously didn't soften them up enough because the Nets led by as many as 25.

The Magic played their sloppiest quarter of the season in the third and were outscored 34-14. They turned the ball over 10 times, allowing the Nets to shot 65 percent and push their lead to 77-53.

Asked if he was concerned about the state of the team, Francis said, "To a point. I'm not panicky-worried."

Worried or not, the question the Magic must answer is this:

When does their meltdown end and the playoff march begin?

Brian Schmitz can be reached at bschmitz@orlandosentinel.com.