National Basketball Association

Magic Musings: First win still elusive after loss to shorthanded Bulls

Published Nov. 4, 2014 11:04 p.m. ET

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Even with both Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah not available, the Chicago Bulls had enough Tuesday night to keep the Orlando Magic winless.

The Bulls held the Magic to 38 points following halftime in a display of the hard-nosed defense for which they have become known. Despite getting 21 points from Tobias Harris, the Magic lost 98-90 and are off to their first 0-4 start since 1990, the franchise's second year of existence.

The absences of Rose (sprained ankles) and Noah (illness) had an impact in the early going. The Magic scored 52 points in the first half and had 14 assists with only five turnovers.

Both teams struggled on offense in the third quarter. But after being outscored by double figures in the third quarters of their losses to Washington and Toronto, the Magic had to have been pleased to go into the final 12 minutes tied at 69.

The Magic took their last lead at 77-75 on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by center Nikola Vucevic, his second in as many games.

Harris, Vucevic and Evan Fournier were the only Magic players to score in double figures. Channing Frye played 36 minutes but took just four shots, all from 3-point range.

Jimmy Butler had 21 points to pace the Bulls.

The game was the first of 11 for the Magic away from home this month. This marks just the fourth time in franchise history that the team will play in 11 games on the road in a single month, most recently in January 2010.

THE TURNING POINT

The Bulls went ahead to stay by going on a 12-2 run early in the fourth quarter which included a pair of 3-pointers by Nikola Mirotic.

THE DIFFERENCE MAKER

Pau Gasol, the Bulls' most noteworthy offseason acquisition, had 16 points and 13 rebounds while also assisting on Aaron Brooks' key 3-pointer with 2:48 remaining.

STAT OF THE GAME

Vucevic recorded his fourth double-double in as many games with 19 points and 13 rebounds. He had been one of three players in the NBA with three so far this season, with Memphis' Zach Randolph and Washington's John Wall being the others.

WHAT'S NEXT

Wednesday night at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.