Magic storm past Nets for second straight win, 139-105
ORLANDO, Fla (AP) - Aaron Gordon had 20 points and Elfrid Payton had 11 points and 12 assists as the Orlando Magic scored a season high in defeating the Brooklyn Nets 139-105 on Tuesday night.
Payton set the tone by keeping the ball moving and consistently getting his teammates involved in his second straight double-double.
Gordon was hot early, making his first six shots and scoring 13 points in the first quarter.
Victor Oladipo and Evan Fournier had their moments and backup center Dewayne Dedmon, playing in place of injured Nikola Vucevic, scored 15 points
The Magic had eight players in double figures, including backups Andrew Nicholson with 24 and Jason Smith with 14.
The Nets were led by reserve forward Thomas Robinson, who scored 18 points, after being inserted into the starting lineup in place of Thaddeus Young. Brook Lopez scored just five points in the first half and did not play in the second half.
The Magic won two in a row for the first time since defeating Atlanta on consecutive nights on Feb. 7 and 8.
The Magic led by as many as 36 points in the third quarter and 103-73 going into the fourth quarter. They shot 62 percent from the field and tied a season-high with 14 3-pointers. Brooklyn converted 47 percent from the field.
The Nets had no answer for all of Orlando's scoring threats as coach Tony Brown made liberal use of his timeouts in the third quarter in attempt to slow things. But with the Magic guards finding Dedmon for easy alley-oops in the third period, there was little Brown and the Nets could do.
With Gordon leading the way, the Magic took control in the first quarter and then increased their lead to as many as 30 points in the second. They led 73-45 at halftime.
Gordon led the Magic with 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting in the opening half, while Fournier knocked down 6-of-8 shots for 15 points. Nicholson came off the bench and went 6 for 6 for 14 points and Smith added another 10.
The Magic shot 66 percent from the field in the first two quarters, a season high. They also converted 60 percent from 3-point range.
The Nets, meanwhile, were sloppy with the basketball, committing 10 turnovers in the first half. Brooklyn also had trouble consistently knocking down shots. Lopez was 2 for 7 from the field.
TIP-INS
Magic: Center Nikola Vucevic returned to practice Monday but he sat out his 13th straight game Tuesday night as he recovers from a groin sprain. Magic coach Scott Skiles said the team's leading scorer could return for either Thursday's game against Indiana or at Milwaukee on Friday. ... Oladipo, the team's second-leading scorer, returned to the starting lineup after sitting out the last two games with a wrist sprain. He had 7 points.
Nets: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Thaddeus Young did not play and Jarrett Jack was inactive.
UP NEXT
Orlando Magic at Indiana Pacers on Thursday.
Brooklyn Nets at Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.