National Basketball Association

Bench players come up big as Wizards defeat Magic

Published Nov. 15, 2014 9:46 p.m. ET

foxsports

Nene and reserve Kris Humphries scored 16 points apiece, John Wall had 15 points and 10 assists, and the Washington Wizards improved their impressive start with a 98-93 victory over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.

Reserve Otto Porter added 13 points as the Wizards won their third straight and moved to 7-2, their best start since opening 7-1 during the 1974-75 season.

Washington's bench outscored Orlando's reserves 48-13.

All five Orlando starters scored in double figures, led by Tobias Harris with 19 points and Victor Oladipo with 18.

Oladipo, in his second game back after missing nine games with a facial fracture, made his first start and played 32 minutes. Wearing a protective face mask, Oladipo shot 7 of 18 and had a team-high seven assists.

Orlando had won two straight.

The Magic trailed by 10 at halftime, but 3-pointers by Channing Frye and Evan Fournier pulled them within 52-48 with 7:42 left in the third quarter.

Fournier's three-point play later cut the deficit to one, but Porter hit a pair of jumpers, starting a 9-3 Wizards run capped by Wall's 3-pointer.

Rasual Butler's 3-pointer with 9:53 left in the game made it 76-66.

Orlando pulled to 82-77 on Nikola Vucevic's hook, but a jumper by Humphries and two by Porter pushed the lead back to nine with 5:37 to play.

The Magic got no closer than five the rest of the way.

Down 12 midway through the second quarter, Orlando scored six straight points, including four by Oladipo, to pull within 40-34. A minute later Nene scored on driving dunk and followed with a jumper to push the lead back to 10.

TIP-INS

Magic: Orlando has lost six straight to the Wizards. . The Magic were playing their fourth game in five nights. . Luke Ridnour (personal matter) was not with the team Saturday night.

Wizards: Washington improved to 4-0 at home for first time since 1974-75. . The Wizards blocked a season-high eight shots. . Humphries is averaging 11.5 points and 7.3 rebounds over his last four games.

UP NEXT

Magic: Visit Detroit on Monday.

Wizards: Host Dallas on Wednesday.