Miller scored 17 of his 21 points in a hot-shooting first half as the Orlando Magic routed Chicago, 102-74, for their third straight win.
The Magic are in a very easy part of their schedule, a fact not lost on McGrady. After Monday's 42-point win over Memphis, the All-Star swingman said, "We have two more home games, I guess you could call them 'cupcake' teams."
 Orlando's Andrew DeClercq makes sure of two. Paul Chapman NBAE/Getty Images |
"People talk about the schedule and here you played Chicago and Washington and Memphis," Magic coach Doc Rivers said. "Every team plays these teams and in order to get a good record, you have to beat everyone you can beat."
"It doesn't matter if we're playing the YMCA team, as long as we win," Magic forward Horace Grant said.
Chicago actually came in having won two of its last three games. But the Bulls were no match for the Magic and lost to Orlando for the 11th time in 12 meetings since the dismantling of their dynasty.
Miller had a lot to do with that, making 7-of-8 shots in the first half as Orlando shot a blistering 63 percent (22-of-35) and bolted to a 57-40 lead.
"Anytime you win in the NBA, it's big," Miller said. "People don't understand, the Bulls don't have the best record but they've won two of their last three. In the NBA, anything can happen. Chicago beat Houston by 30, or 25, whatever it was."
In fact, the only Magic who had trouble shooting was McGrady, who was 1-of-6. He picked it up with 10 points in the third quarter as Orlando widened the lead to 86-58 entering the final period. He sat the entire fourth quarter, finishing with 14 points.
Rookie center and Chicago native Steven Hunter scored a season-high 17 points -- nearly 13 above his average -- for the Magic, who finished at 50 percent (40-of-80).
"I had lots of energy," Hunter said. "That's my hometown team, Chicago. I had a good game tonight."
"Steven was great," Rivers said. "He wanted to play well and he was back at home against his guys. This is where he grew up."
Ron Mercer scored 15 points and Marcus Fizer added 11 for the Bulls, who have lost six games by 20 or more points.
"It can't get any worse than this," Mercer said. "You just have to deal with it. I look at it every day like there are a lot of people in the world worse off than we are."
Darrell Armstrong and McGrady made 3-pointers to trigger a 16-2 run. Hunter scored the last five points, giving Orlando a 23-9 lead with 5:51 left in the first quarter.
"We didn't get to their shooters," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said. "We were four to five (feet) away from each one. I didn't like the looks they were getting early on."
Miller had a three-point play and a jumper to push the lead to 33-17 after one quarter. He scored seven more in the second period, including a jumper that opened a 53-32 bulge with 2:54 to go.
"Miller came out really hot and we were concetrating on Tracy," Bulls guard Kevin Ollie said.
The Bulls got no closer than 15 points in the second half. A tip-in by Hunter made it 81-51 with 3:37 to play in the third quarter and the Magic opened their largest lead at 98-58 on a dunk by Andrew DeClercq with 8:26 remaining.
Pat Garrity scored 11 points and Armstrong added 10 for the Magic, who made 8-of-21 from the arc. Greg Anthony scored 10 points for the Bulls, who shot 43 percent (31-of-72) and committed 27 turnovers.