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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
PHOENIX (AP) -- The Orlando Magic are more than just Tracy
McGrady. The Phoenix Suns learned that Wednesday night.
|  | | Orlando's Tracy McGrady had a near triple-double, but it wasn't a one-man show for the Magic on Wednesday. |
McGrady was held to less than 30 points for just the second time in
seven games, but he nearly had his first career triple-double as
the Magic snapped the Suns' four-game winning streak 97-91.
"It's all about trust," McGrady said. "That's what I've been
learning throughout this season, being able to trust my teammates
and create for others. That's what I was trying to do tonight."
McGrady had 25 points on 10-for-28 shooting with 12 rebounds and
eight assists.
"This is a big win for us because it wasn't a great game by
McGrady," Orlando coach Doc Rivers said. "He didn't have his shot
early. He hit some big shots at the end. He just stayed in there
and was a great decoy at times."
Mike Miller had 16 points for the Magic. Darrell Armstrong, who
had 13 points and 11 assists, scored four crucial points in the
final 1:21 as Orlando won its second consecutive to finish its
four-game road trip 2-2.
"Back to back wins on the road are very big for us," Rivers
said. "We basically come back the same way we left, and that's
really impressive."
The Suns, who started their streak by ending the Magic's
nine-game run in Orlando on Feb. 20, were noticeably slower without
Shawn Marion, sidelined with a concussion sustained in a fall late
in the game Sunday against Utah.
"We just came out totally flat," Phoenix coach Scott Skiles
said. "They had all the energy. Early in the game we couldn't even
get back on defense. They took it to us, and they deserved to
win."
Missing an important player was no excuse, Skiles said.
"Normally that's when guys with character step up," he said.
The Magic led throughout the second half, but sent Phoenix to the
foul line 19 times in the fourth quarter. The Suns, however, missed
seven of them, three crucial ones by Tony Delk.
Phoenix was 32-for-44 at the line, compared to 17-for-23 for
Orlando.
Jason Kidd scored 16 points and tied his career high with 16
rebounds. Jake Tsakilitis, Phoenix's 7-foot-2 rookie, had a
season's best 17 points and eight rebounds. Cliff Robinson scored
16, but was on the bench down the stretch. Tom Gugliotta added 14
for Phoenix, which shot just 36 percent from the field.
"Sure, we missed Shawn," Gugliotta said. "But that's no
excuse for not going out and playing as hard as we have been the
last six or seven games. If we'd played as hard as we had been,
we'd have won this game."
The Suns cut the lead to one twice in the fourth quarter, but
both times missed free throws by Delk ruined the Suns' chances to
tie or take the lead.
Delk missed two free throws with 8:27 to play and Orlando
leading 81-80. He had a chance for a game-tying three-point play
with 26.5 seconds to play when he scored on a reverse layup and was
fouled by McGrady. But he missed the free throw and Orlando led
92-91.
"I've just got to get to the line, concentrate and make free
throws," Delk said. "They're crucial, something that I should be
shooting a lot better than I'm shooting right now. I've just got to
focus in on that part of my game."
Armstrong's 17-footer had put the Magic ahead 92-89 with 1:21 to
go.
His two free throws with 21.2 seconds to play gave Orlando a
94-91 lead, then Gugliotta's low pass to Rodney Rogers was lost out
of bounds. Miller's two free throws with 15.7 seconds remaining
made it 96-91.
Orlando outscored the Suns 10-1 over the last 2{ minutes of the
first half to go up 53-45 at the break.
Game notes
In their two games against Orlando, the Suns were 75-for-99
at the foul line. ... Rogers started in place of Marion and was
0-for-6 from the field in the first half, 2-for-14 for the game.
... Marion will miss the Thursday night game at San Antonio but is
expected to rejoin the team Saturday against Denver. ... Orlando
was 9-3 in February. ... Kidd had seven rebounds in the first
quarter.
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NBA Scoreboard
Orlando Clubhouse
Phoenix Clubhouse
RECAPS
Indiana 99
Milwaukee 86
Toronto 95
Atlanta 88
Charlotte 91
New Jersey 88
Minnesota 111
Detroit 100
Philadelphia 79
Miami 69
Houston 95
Chicago 78
Orlando 97
Phoenix 91
Utah 101
Vancouver 83
Denver 107
LA Lakers 101
Sacramento 122
Golden State 101
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