MAGIC HOLD OFF NETS, IRVING
The Orlando Magic shook off a tough loss on the road by coming home with their best shooting performance of the season to end a nine-game losing streak.
Aaron Gordon scored a season-best 38 points, Evan Fournier added 31 and the Magic held off a furious fourth-quarter rally to beat the Brooklyn Nets 121-113 on Friday night.
The Magic lost 94-93 a night earlier to the Knicks in New York. With a chance to win in the closing seconds, Fournier botched a pickand-roll and angrily ripped his jersey apart.
On Friday, Fournier and the Magic did little wrong while shooting 51.2 percent and making a season-best 21 3-pointers.
“It was great because we showed a lot of character after a very tough loss,” said Fournier, who shot 10 of 13 and was 6 of 8 on 3s. “We fought really hard against probably the best team in the East and got the ‘W.’ ”
The Magic overcame Kyrie Irving’s season-best 43 points to stop Brooklyn’s winning streak at six games. The Nets also had their franchise-record, eight-game road winning streak halted.
“This is what if feels like to lose,” said Irving, whose Nets lost for the first time since Feb. 27 and for just the second time in 16 games. “We don’t want too many more feelings like this, so learn
Magic 121, Nets 113
from it and move forward.”
Pistons 113, Rockets 100: Frank Jackson had a season-high 23 points and visiting Detroit handed Houston its franchiserecord 19th straight loss. Winless since Feb. 4, Houston struggled to find answers for Detroit’s ball movement and Jackson’s shooting. Jackson was 5 of 5 from 3point range and 7 of 10 overall.
Jazz 115, Raptors 112: At Tampa, Fla., Donovan Mitchell scored eight of his 31 points in the final minute and a half to lead the Jazz past the Raptors. Pascal Siakam’s 3-point shot at the final horn spun around and out for the Raptors. They have lost seven straight.
Kings 107, Celtics 96: Richaun Holmes had 25 points, 11 rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals and visiting Sacramento swept the season series with Boston for the first time since 2007.
De’Aaron Fox scored 29 points, Buddy Hield had 22 and Harrison Barnes added 15 points and 13 rebounds for Sacramento. The Kings have won consecutive games for the first time since Feb. 6-7.
Spurs 116, Cavaliers 110: Keldon Johnson had 23 points and career-high 21 rebounds, Dejounte Murray added 22 points and San Antonio beat host Cleveland. Tim Duncan was the last Spurs player with a 20-point, 20rebound game in 2013 and had their last 11-offensive board performance in 2010.
Warriors 116, Grizzlies 103: Andrew Wiggins scored a seasonhigh 40 points, Jordan Poole added 25 starting in place of injured Stephen Curry, and short-handed Golden State beat host Memphis to open a two-game set.
Pacers 137, Heat 110: Malcolm Brogdon scored 27 points on 10of-12 shooting to help Indiana beat Miami on the road.
Nuggets 131, Bulls 127 (OT): Jamal Murray scored 34 points, including a tying 3-pointer in the final second of regulation and a crucial jumper in the final seconds of overtime, lifting host Denver past Chicago.
Trail Blazers 125, Mavericks 119: CJ McCollum scored 32 points, Damian Lillard had 31 and Portland beat Dallas at home. The All-Stars for each team, Lillard and Luka Doncic (38 points, nine rebounds, eight assists), both had big nights. But Lillard had much more help from his costar, as Kristaps Porzingis finished with just 11 points and didn’t make a field goal until the early third quarter.
Suns 113, Timberwolves 101: Chris Paul scored 20 points, Devin Booker added 16 and Phoenix bounced back from a loss to Minnesota the night before by beating the Wolves at home.