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| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| NUGGETS | 24 | 27 | 26 | 20 | 97 |
| MAGIC | 22 | 30 | 25 | 26 | 103 |
ORLANDO, Fla.(AP) J.J. Redick had 23 points and career highs of eight assists and seven rebounds in place of an injured Vince Carter, helping the Orlando Magic beat the Denver Nuggets 103-97 on Sunday night.
Redick was 8-for-15 shooting and played a career-high 46 minutes after Carter sprained his right big toe. The Magic also got a big boost with 19 points from reserve Ryan Anderson for their 13th win in the last 15 games.
Carmelo Anthony had 26 points and eight rebounds, and Chauncey Billups finished with 18 points for the struggling Nuggets, losers of four of their past five games.
The Magic broke away from a tight game with an 18-7 run late in the fourth quarter. The spurt included a jumper by Redick that rolled around the rim four times until sinking, with Redick laughing it up all the way back downcourt.
It was that kind of night - after it began with an immediate twist.
Carter left 95 seconds into the game with the injury, two days after he sprained his right ankle in a win over Minnesota. It was not immediately clear how long Carter could be sidelined.
His replacement faired just fine.
Redick filled up the stat sheet with an all-around game that he has rarely shown in the four years since he left Duke. Not only was his shooting sharp in this one, he was directing the Magic's offense.
Redick zipped one overhead pass from the arc to a cutting Matt Barnes underneath the hoop. He reached around a defender to bounce pass to Marcin Gortat for a dunk, and had several other hard drives that he kicked back out for shots.
Redick helped the Magic go ahead 52-51 after the second quarter in a what was a topsy-turvy half for both teams.
The Nuggets created some separation by scoring eight straight points to start the third quarter, the last coming on consecutive layups by Arron Afflalo and Billups. Denver would stretch its lead to 67-57 a few minutes later before the Magic answered with nine straight points, highlighted by a put-back dunk by Barnes that tightened things until the finish.
NOTES: Redick's previous career highs were seven assists, six rebounds and 45 minutes. ... Denver coach George Karl missed his 11th game since announcing that he had been diagnosed with throat and neck cancer. The Nuggets are 6-5 during without Karl. ... Anthony and Billups were called for technical fouls in the second and fourth quarters, respectively. Rashard Lewis and Redick missed each free throw for the Magic. ... The Magic's 20th annual Black Tie and Tennis Charity Gala last week raised more than $400,000 through the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation and the McCormick Foundation match, the team announced. ... Nuggets F Kenyon Martin (knee) sat out his 13th consecutive game.
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Preview:
(STATS) -- The Denver Nuggets probably won't be sad to see the Orlando Magic move out of their old downtown arena and into a new home next season.
Before then, the Nuggets look to post back-to-back wins at Orlando for the first time ever Sunday in their final trip to Amway Arena for a matchup between potential NBA title contenders.
Denver (48-25) is 18-19 on the road this season, but that record away from home has been nothing compared to its futility in Orlando.
The Nuggets are 3-18 against the Magic (51-22) in their aging arena since the franchise entered the league in 1989. Denver snapped a 15-game losing streak at Orlando with an 82-73 win Feb. 11, 2009.
Orlando, 29-7 at Amway this season, has five regular-season home games remaining, but hopes to leave the arena after a lengthy playoff run.
Sunday's matchup could be a potential NBA championship preview. Each club is in position to finish second in their respective conferences, and Orlando has already clinched a playoff spot.
Denver looks to improve to 2-2 on a five-game swing after winning 97-96 at Toronto on Friday. Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points and hit an 18-foot fadeaway at the buzzer to help Denver snap a three-game losing streak.
"I think hitting one on the road, you get that much more joy out of it,'' said Anthony, who's averaging 31.0 points on the trip. "You've got 20,000 people against you and you can make a shot to silence them? That feels good.''
Nene added 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists as Denver overcame a 41.2-percent shooting effort and nine-point fourth-quarter deficit.
"We didn't quit and that's the bottom line," said assistant coach Adrian Dantley, who improved to 5-5 while filling in for George Karl as he undergoes cancer treatment.
Despite the Nuggets' struggles in Orlando, Anthony has averaged 30.6 points in five career road games versus the Magic. He had 29 in last season's win at Orlando, and 27 in Denver's 115-97 home win over the Magic on Jan. 13.
Orlando's Dwight Howard was held to eight points but pulled down 13 rebounds in the January meeting. However, he's recorded 39 points and 39 rebounds in his last two home games against the Nuggets.
Howard had 24 points, 19 boards and four blocked shots in Orlando's 106-97 win over Minnesota on Friday. Averaging 13.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, Howard is trying to become the first NBA player to lead the league in both categories for two consecutive seasons.
"What Dwight's doing is really unbelievable,'' Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "He's so far out in front of everybody in those two categories that he might have to average like two or three rebounds and block three or four more shots to win. He's just having a phenomenal year.''
Howard is more concerned about helping the Magic take the next step after reaching the NBA Finals last season.
"All the individual accomplishments are great, but winning a championship is what we're really looking forward to,'' he said. "I'll look back 20 years from now and be happy about breaking records and stuff, but I just want to win a championship.''
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Live Baseline Blog:
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Game Notes:
Mar. 28 vs. Denver: Orlando is 27-15 all-time vs. Denver (18-3 at home, 9-12 on the road) during the regular season, including 0-1 this season… Orlando spilt the season series with Denver 1-1 last season…The Magic and Nuggets have split the last 10 meetings, but the Magic have won 18 of the last 25 outings overall, including 12 straight wins from Feb. 21, 1997 to Mar. 9, 2003…The streak tied Orlando’s longest all-time winning streak against any team (12 vs. Houston, Nov. 23, 1994-Feb. 16, 2001)…The Magic have won 15 of 16 at home, but lost six of the last seven games in Denver…Jameer Nelson was drafted by Denver, then traded to Orlando on draft night (June 24, 2004)…GM Otis Smith spent time with Denver during his playing career…Assistant GM Dave Twardzik was a college scout for the Nuggets from 1997-99… Jan. 13 @ Denver – Nuggets 115, Magic 97: Carmelo Anthony poured in 27 points, while Chauncey Billups netted 24, as Denver defeated Orlando, 115-97, at Pepsi Center. Six Nuggets scored in double figures. J.R. Smith added 17 points off the bench. Matt Barnes led Orlando and all players with a season-high 28 points. Denver shot 55.8 percent from the field and dished out 28 assists. Orlando led 53-50 at halftime, but stumbled during the third quarter, being outscored 35-19. Denver cruised from there, leading by as many as 28 points during the fourth quarter.
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. NUGGETS: 51 pts., Tracy McGrady (@ Denver, 11-14-03)
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. MAGIC: 37 pts., Michael Adams (@ Denver, 3-2-91)
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