National Basketball Association

Magic Musings: Orlando surpasses road win total from last year

Published Dec. 6, 2014 12:00 a.m. ET

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With Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo leading the charge, the Orlando Magic kept the Utah Jazz on the skids Friday night.

The Magic snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Jazz dating back to November 2010 by holding on for a 98-93 victory. They led by as many as 17 points in the third quarter before the Jazz, who were trying to avoid an eighth consecutive loss, made things interesting.

Oladipo went 9 of 12 from the floor, and the Magic ended up shooting 50 percent in their fifth night of a six-game road trip. Despite again being without center Nikola Vucevic due to back spasms, they were able to hold their own on the boards against the Jazz.

The Magic were ahead 53-41 at halftime and took their largest lead at 65-48 on a three-point play by Kyle O'Quinn, who started for the third game in a row in the absence of Vucevic.

Evan Fournier was Orlando's only starter not to finish in double figures. But the one shot he took in the first half was enough to extend his streak of making at least one 3-point field goal in all 21 games that he has played in this season. His streak, which dates back to last season in Denver, has gone for 26 consecutive outings -- the longest active mark in the NBA.

Channing Frye snapped a skid of eight games where he was held under 10 points as he finished with 11. The Magic also got 12 points off the bench from Ben Gordon. With O'Quinn plagued by foul trouble for much of the second half, Dewayne Dedmon wound up leading Orlando in rebounds with nine.

THE TURNING POINT

Harris had two 3-point field goals, both off assists from Oladipo, as well as a three-point play to give the Magic a 10-point lead after the Jazz had made it a 75-72 game.

THE DIFFERENCE MAKER

Harris scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter.

STAT OF THE GAME

The Magic already have more victories on the road (six) and in the first game of back-to-backs (three) than they did all of last season.

WHAT'S NEXT

Orlando closes the trip at 10 p.m. Saturday in Sacramento.

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

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