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From Orlando Sentinel

MAGIC 85, TRAIL BLAZERS 74

Reserves come to Orlando Magic's rescue

The Magic's seldom-used bench bails out the starters, and the team begins its 5-game road trip with a win.

Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer
November 27, 2007

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Orlando Magic's bench not only won over their hard-to-please coach Monday night. They won the game.

The little-used reserves bailed out the struggling starters in the Magic's 85-74 win against the Portland Trail Blazers that allowed Orlando to continue their impressive roadwork.

The Magic (13-3) lifted their NBA-best road record to 8-1 and climbed 10 games over .500 for the first time since the 1999 lockout-shortened season. Hedo Turkoglu paced the Magic with 21 points and Rashard Lewis added 20, and the pair hit big shots in the fourth quarter to ward off the stubborn Blazers, who had beaten the Detroit Pistons and the Dallas Mavs at home.

It was the bench players who bridged some ugly gaps of play as the Magic began a five-game trip.

"It was a tough night to score. The bench gave us energy," Lewis said. "That let us know we are a total team."

Coach Stan Van Gundy has been critical of himself for not using his subs enough and playing his starters so many minutes. He had little choice against the Blazers.

"Wow. Our bench was tremendous," Van Gundy said of his team, which scored its fewest points of the season.

The Magic played without shooting guard Keyon Dooling, their top scorer off the bench (7.1 points per game). Forward Pat Garrity was activated in his place.

Dooling came down with a virus Sunday and was dehydrated, taking an IV before the game. He is expected to play Wednesday night when the Magic face the SuperSonics in Seattle.

Maurice Evans was the first sub off the bench against the Blazers, relieving Turkoglu in the first quarter. Evans was acquired last week from the Los Angeles Lakers, along with forward Brian Cook.

Howard was in foul trouble all night, and when he was on the floor he missed too many shots from point-blank range. Adonal Foyle had to man Howard's spot and contributed eight points and 10 rebounds. Evans finished with seven points and two rebounds.

Foyle was in the middle of a rally early in the fourth period. With the Magic ahead just 62-61, Foyle scored two consecutive baskets to increase the lead to 66-61. Keith Bogans, who started the quarter with a 3-pointer, completed a traditional 3-point play to push the margin to 69-61.

After Lewis' 3-pointer, Foyle and Evans grabbed offensive rebounds in a possession, with Evans getting fouled. He hit both free throws to bump the lead to 74-63.

The Blazers and Magic were tied at 42 at halftime, but the home team surged ahead in the third 56-49 on LaMarcus Aldridge's jumper.

The Magic went scoreless for a two-minute stretch until Turkoglu nailed a jump-shot to cut the deficit to 56-51. As poorly as they were playing, they put together enough offense to go ahead 59-58 at the end of the period on Lewis' 3-pointer.

The Magic were off their game in the early going, slow defensively and searching for their shooting eyes.

Orlando fell behind Portland by 13 at 35-22 midway in the second period, but finally got it going. They blistered the Blazers with a 16-0 run that gave them a 38-35 lead, sparked not by the outside shooting of Lewis, but his work inside.

With the Magic struggling from 3-point range, Lewis turned down several long-distance attempts and drove to the hoop. He showed his overall game, dishing to Howard for an assist and adding a steal to set up Jameer Nelson's layup.

The Blazers had all the energy early, jumping to a 12-point lead at 27-15 as Howard picked up his second foul with 53 seconds left in the opening period.


Brian Schmitz can be reached at bschmitz@orlandosentinel.com

Copyright © 2008, Orlando Sentinel

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