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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Not even a lineup change could help the
Charlotte Hornets out of their six-week long slump.
|  | | Tracy McGrady applies some defense to go with his 26-point outing for the Magic. |
The Hornets started Derrick Coleman for the first time since
November, but still lost their fourth consecutive game, 109-83 to
the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.
The 26-point defeat was the largest this season for Charlotte,
which has lost 16 of its last 21 games.
"We were flat, we just didn't have any energy and I don't know
why," Charlotte coach Paul Silas said. "We just have to get back
to the basics and fight through it."
Tracy McGrady scored 26 points to stretch Orlando's winning
streak to a season-high five games and move the Magic over .500
with a 24-23 record.
"It's nice to be over .500, but the guys are not satisfied with
that," Orlando coach Doc Rivers said. "They're looking for more
and that's impressive for such a young group. I believe in this
team and I think we can make the playoffs."
The Hornets used to be thinking about the playoffs, too. They
were 20-9 on Dec. 26 and had a 3½ game lead in the Central
Division.
But they've gone 6-15 since and now trail division-leading
Milwaukee and second-place Toronto.
"This is like a tale of two different seasons," said P.J.
Brown. "Whatever we were doing right in the first half hasn't
spilled over into 2001 because we are having a horrible New Year."
Hoping to change that, Silas benched Brown in favor of the
much-maligned Coleman. It was only the third start this season for
Coleman, who reported to training camp almost 30 pounds overweight
and then missed the entire preseason because of a heart condition.
"He said he was ready to start, so I started him," Silas said.
But Coleman was awful in 22 minutes, shooting just 3-for-8 from
the field for eight points. He was wide-right on an early 3-point
attempt and came up well short of the basket on two first-half
jumpers.
He also went 2-for-6 from the free throw line and was booed
unmercifully when he missed three in a row in the third quarter.
Afterward, he only shrugged when asked his thoughts about
returning to the starting lineup. He later left the Coliseum
singing out loud.
Orlando only led 44-43 at halftime, but broke the game open in
the third quarter behind the shooting of Mike Miller and Darrell
Armstrong.
The Magic opened up a 57-49 lead on three straight 3-pointers --
two from Miller and one from Armstrong. McGrady's 16-foot jumper on
the next possession gave Orlando a 10-point lead with 8:55 left in
the third.
Charlotte cut it to 57-54 on Jamal Mashburn's 3-pointer, but
Orlando answered with a 12-3 run. McGrady hit a 16-footer, Michael
Doleac and Miller scored on 20-foot jump shots and McGrady closed
the run with a jumper and a driving layup.
Orlando took a 78-64 lead into the fourth quarter and Charlotte
never got any closer as the Magic hit their first seven shots of
the period to stretch their lead to 93-70 with 8:02 to play.
The Magic shot 60-percent in the second half, including 6-of-9
from 3-point range.
Miller finished with 17 points and Armstrong added 13. The two
combined to shoot 6-of-11 from 3-point range.
Baron Davis led the Hornets with 18 points. Eddie Robinson came
off the bench to score 13 and Mashburn finished with 12.
Game notes
Davis left immediately after the game to attend his
father's funeral in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Walter Davis, 50,
died last week after suffering a heart attack. Baron Davis is
expected back in time for Thursday's game against Atlanta. ...
Orlando starters Bo Outlaw and Andrew DeClercq combined to score
only five points on 1-for-2 shooting.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Orlando Clubhouse
Charlotte Clubhouse
RECAPS
Orlando 109
Charlotte 83
Detroit 94
Denver 83
New Jersey 90
Atlanta 84
Miami 102
Indiana 89
Milwaukee 112
Sacramento 109
Phoenix 97
Chicago 80
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Tracy McGrady Official Site
Baron Davis Official Site
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