Magic Musings: Orlando turns it up late to spoil Derrick Rose's return
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Victor Oladipo's driving layup with 1.5 seconds remaining Wednesday night enabled the Orlando Magic to defeat the Chicago Bulls 105-103 and post a three-game winning streak for only the second time all season.
Coming off victories over the weekend at Minnesota and Milwaukee, the Magic outscored the Bulls 15-7 over the final five minutes to knock off a team which began the night with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference.
The Bulls lost despite getting Derrick Rose back. The NBA's MVP four years ago underwent an arthroscopic procedure Feb. 27 on his right knee, and the Bulls went 10-10 in their 20 games without him. Rose had nine points and two assists in a little more than 19 minutes before sitting out the entire fourth quarter.
Guard Evan Fournier returned for the Magic after missing their previous 17 games with a sore right hip. He entered the game with 3:55 to go in the first quarter and had the Magic's first 3-pointer. More importantly, he scored five of his 11 points in the final four minutes.
Oladipo and Fournier were needed in a game where Tobias Harris went only 2 of 13 and spent the final 6:18 on the bench in favor of rookie Aaron Gordon. The Magic also got 22 points from Nikola Vucevic and 17 points, nine rebounds and nine assists from Elfrid Payton, including a three-point play in the second quarter resulting from his one-handed slam over Taj Gibson.
Payton went 2 of 2 from 3-point range, marking only the second time all season where he hit more than one 3-pointer.
THE TURNING POINT
Oladipo took Payton's inbound pass and drove past Jimmy Butler down the lane for the game-winning layup. The Bulls had tied the score with 6.5 seconds to go on two free throws by Pau Gasol.
THE DIFFERENCE MAKER
Oladipo scored seven of his game-high 23 points in the final two minutes, including the last of his three 3-pointers which put the Magic up 101-99.
STAT OF THE GAME
The 87-79 lead the Bulls had through three quarters marked the first time in four meetings with the Magic this season that they were ahead going into the fourth quarter.
WHAT'S NEXT
Friday night vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.
