RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Orlando coach Doc Rivers wonders how Tracy
McGrady does it.
|  | | Tracy McGrady, who scored 31 on Friday, has scored 20 points or more in 11 of 14 games for the Magic. |
A painful infection on his left hand limits McGrady's
ballhandling, but not his impact on the game. McGrady had 31
points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots as the
Magic beat the New Jersey Nets 83-80 on Friday night.
The victory was Orlando's second in its last nine games.
Rivers says McGrady, who played with a heavy bandage on his hand
for the second consecutive game, continues to elevate his
performance.
"Another heroic effort," Rivers said. "It's amazing. It
really is to me. I don't know how he does it."
McGrady says it's a matter of blocking out the pain once he
begins preparing for the game.
"This hand is stopping me from doing what I want to do, but I
can't worry about it right now," McGrady said. "Once I put on
this suit, I have to go out and perform."
A miscue by McGrady almost proved costly to Orlando. With the
Magic leading 82-79, but McGrady dribbled the ball off his foot and
out of bounds, giving the Nets the possession with 12.7 seconds
remaining.
Orlando's Darrell Armstrong fouled Stephon Marbury, who hit his
first free throw but intentionally shot the second attempt hard,
hoping the Nets could get a rebound for a chance at game-tying
basket. McGrady grabbed the rebound, was fouled and hit one of two
free throws with 1.3 seconds remaining. There was no time left for
New Jersey to attempt a final shot.
Rivers said committing a foul was his intention as soon as
Orlando lost the ball.
"We were fouling," Rivers said. "I don't like the fate part
where some guy banks a 3 and you go into overtime. That was a smart
move by Darrell. I do believe in (intentionally fouling). I know a
lot of guys don't. I just think the percentages play into your
hands when you make that foul."
The Nets, who lost their sixth straight, were led by Marbury's
25 points. Stephen Jackson had 15 points and nine rebounds and
Aaron Williams added had eight points and season highs in rebounds
(12) and blocked shots (four).
New Jersey shot 33.3 percent. Orlando blocked 13 shots.
"We had a lot of good looks and couldn't knock them down," New
Jersey coach Byron Scott said. "Maybe the guys put a little too
much pressure on themselves to get it done. Even still, we shot 33
percent and still had a chance to win this one."
Orlando's Michael Doleac had 16 points, Armstrong had 11 and
seven assists and Bo Outlaw had 10 points and eight rebounds.
Orlando built its fourth-quarter lead to 72-62 on a basket by
Troy Hudson, but Jackson hit a 3-pointer to cut the Magic's lead to
72-69 with 6:58 remaining. The teams exchanged baskets the rest of
the way until Marbury's free throw.
The Nets' Johnny Newman needed five stitches to close a cut in
his mouth after he was elbowed by Outlaw as they scrambled for
possession. The injury occurred at the 1:35 mark of the second
quarter and Newman, who had five points, did not return.
Scott said he was unsure if Newman would play Saturday when the
teams meet again in New Jersey.
"He said he was OK," Scott said. "I don't know what that
means. I'm not sure if he'll be ready or not."
Game notes
McGrady has scored 20 or more points in 11 of his 14 games.
... New Jersey scored 26 points off 20 Orlando turnovers. ... The
game featured six lead changes and four ties. ... Jackson's nine
rebounds were a season high.
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NBA Scoreboard
New Jersey Clubhouse
Orlando Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 95
Charlotte 74
Toronto 104
LA Clippers 95
Minnesota 102
Boston 98
Utah 94
Miami 92
Orlando 83
New Jersey 80
Detroit 103
Cleveland 93
New York 91
Chicago 86
Indiana 86
Vancouver 76
LA Lakers 109
San Antonio 100
Sacramento 105
Phoenix 98
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