Magic Musings: Orlando hangs on to grab first 3-game win streak
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Orlando Magic overcame some shaky free-throw shooting in the fourth quarter Sunday night to defeat the undermanned but feisty Philadelphia 76ers 103-98 for their first three-game winning streak of the season.
Nikola Vucevic had 31 points and 14 rebounds as the Magic continued to turn things around under interim head coach James Borrego. They had not won three consecutive games since Feb. 5-9 of last year, and this victory did not come easily.
Twice down the stretch, the Sixers deliberately fouled Elfrid Payton, who was shooting only 54.5 percent from the line going into the game. Payton missed three of his four attempts resulting from those fouls but also made a pair of free throws with 2:22 remaining to give the Magic a 96-91 lead.
At one point, the Magic were only 6 of 12 from the line in the fourth quarter. But they connected on their final five attempts in holding off the Sixers, who were last in the NBA in scoring (89.9) and field-goal percentage (41.0) and traded away last season's Rookie of the Year, Michael Carter-Williams, on Thursday.
The Magic held the 76ers without a field goal in the final 5:33 of the second quarter to take a 55-47 halftime lead. The 15-2 run began with a three-point play by Vucevic and ended with a steal and dunk by Willie Green. It marked the first time the Magic led at halftime since Borrego took over six games ago.
After going 3 of 15 from the floor in the Magic's previous three games, Channing Frye hit all five of his shots in the first quarter, including two 3-pointers.
Tobias Harris was back after missing three games with a sore right knee but had only two points and no rebounds through three quarters.
THE TURNING POINT
After the Sixers got to within 81-79 on a 3-point field goal by JaKarr Sampson, the Magic scored the game's next 10 points. Six of them came from Victor Oladipo.
THE DIFFERENCE MAKER
Vucevic scored 13 of his points in the third quarter, when he pretty much had his way with rookie Nerlens Noel.
STAT OF THE GAME
The 34 3-pointers attempted by the Sixers were a season high for any Magic opponent. They made seven of their first 12 shots but were only 6 of 22 the rest of the way.
WHAT'S NEXT
Wednesday night vs. Miami, 7 p.m.
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.
