HOUSTON, Feb. 16 (Ticker) -- All-Star Tracy McGrady scored 39 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and handed out seven assists as the Orlando Magic used a hot-shooting first half to propel themselves to a 109-100 victory over the Houston Rockets.

McGrady scored 23 in the first half and was one of four Magic players in double figures as Orlando shot 61 percent (25-of-41) and raced to a 67-48 lead.

Darrell Armstrong contributed 15 points on five 3-pointers -- all in the Magic's season-high 42-point first quarter -- as Orlando sank 9-of-13 from beyond the arc in the opening half.

NBA TV highlights from Magic-Rockets: 56k | 300k Magic sparkplug Darrell Armstrong was on fire from beyond the arc. Bill Baptist NBAE/Getty Images

"The basket was looking very big," said Armstrong, who was 8-of-11 from the floor. "I got mad early in the game when Mike Miller passed me the ball and I didn't take the three. But after that I was taking the shots when the guys found me and I was making everything I shot."

Armstrong finished with 27 points, including six free throws in the final 34 seconds that kept Houston at bay and gave the Magic their 13th win in 14 meetings with the Rockets.

Armstrong wasn't the only Orlando player on fire in the first quarter. As a team, the Magic made 17-of-24 shots and 8-of-9 from 3-point range.

"That was the best shooting exhibition I've seen all year. The first three, we were defending McGrady and they rotated to the open shot," Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "But the other six, they just came down and flung that thing up. It was a barrage."

The Rockets got within 97-90 on Steve Francis' 3-pointer with 3:28 to go, but a lay-in and two free throws by McGrady around a foul shot by Houston's Moochie Norris put things out of reach.

"When it gets down to it like that I know I have to step up and get things done, whether it's making a pass or making a shot," McGrady said.

McGrady was 14-of-32 from the field and 9-of-11 from the line. He entered the contest eighth in the NBA in scoring at 24.6 per game and now has scored at least 30 points in 10 games this season.

"McGrady is in a class with (Kevin) Garnett," Tomjanovich said. "In the old era, you would think he was a guy from another planet."

Francis and Cuttino Mobley had 27 points apiece for the Rockets, who have dropped four of their last six games.

Orlando took control midway through the first quarter, expanding on an 11-9 advantage with a 13-2 burst paced by Armstrong's two 3-pointers.

Pat Garrity finished with 17 points and Mike Miller added 15 as the Magic shot 51 percent (40-of-87) from the field while basically cruising for the final three quarters.

Kenny Thomas had 21 points and 10 boards and Eddie Griffin added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Rockets, who failed in their bid to notch a third straight home win.

After McGrady thwarted the Rockets' first late comeback attempt, Houston managed to again pull within seven on a 3-pointer by Mobley with 31 seconds left.

But Armstrong, an 84 percent free throw shooter, was up to the challenge.

Orlando (27-25) is a season-best two games over .500 for the third time this season.