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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
CLEVELAND (AP) -- While Tracy McGrady was back in his hotel
ordering room service, watching television or taking a nap, the Orlando
Magic showed they can fight for themselves.
|  | | Orlando's Cory Alexander (2) drives past Cleveland's Wesley Person as the Magic posted a 97-87 victory. |
Pat Garrity scored 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter
Wednesday night and the Magic survived without their suspended
leading scorer in a 97-87 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Garrity made four 3-pointers and finished 7-for-10 from the
floor in 19 minutes for the Magic, who learned two hours before
tipoff that McGrady had been suspended two games for fighting.
"He's carried us plenty of times so I hope he got some rest,"
Garrity said of McGrady, who couldn't even watch his teammates as
the game wasn't televised locally. "We need him back."
McGrady learned of his suspension just as the Magic were
preparing to leave for Gund Arena. Orlando's star was suspended and
fined $10,000 by the NBA for hitting Sacramento's Bobby Jackson in
the face with a ball and wrestling with the Kings guard during an
overtime defeat Tuesday night.
But although they were without McGrady's 27 points, 7.8 rebounds
and 4.5 rebounds a game, the Magic were able to handle the
pathetic Cavs, who have lost nine of 10, 21 of 24 and were booed
off the floor at the final horn.
"It was a matter of everybody stepping up," said Garrity. "We
knew that it was going to be tough without him, but we wanted to
show we're winners and winners play through the tough times."
Mike Miller scored 18 points -- none in the fourth -- and Darrell
Armstrong had 15 and eight assists in three quarters for the Magic,
who after playing at home Tuesday night didn't arrive in Cleveland
until 4 a.m.
"I asked them right before the game, 'Who's going to step
up?"' said Magic coach Doc Rivers. "And everybody said, 'We're
all going to step up.' That's exactly what it was, a team win."
Garrity, one of the NBA's top 3-point shooters, closed the third
quarter with a long jumper from the corner and then opened the
fourth with his first 3-pointer to put the Magic up 75-67.
He hit his second 3 from the top of the key just as the 24-shot
clock expired to give Orlando an 80-71 lead with 9:09 remaining,
and then hit a running, off-balance one-hander from the baseline as
the Magic went ahead 84-75 with 7:33 to play.
"It was a matter of hitting that first one, I guess," Garrity
said. "It was just one of those nights for me."
Garrity scored 12 of Orlando's 14 points in one stretch, and
each of his baskets brought many of the players off Orlando's
bench.
Armstrong was the head cheerleader in the fourth and didn't have
to play a minute as Orlando's reserves were able to open a
comfortable lead and put the Cavs away.
"We're supposed to be a better second unit and tonight we
weren't," Cleveland's Chris Gatling said. "McGrady is a special
player but tonight we didn't stop the guys who aren't supposed to
kill us."
Matt Harpring scored 19 points, Chris Mihm 15 and Jim Jackson 11
for Cleveland, which is 8-34 since opening the season 15-7.
Cavs point guard Andre Miller had just four points on 1-for-7
shooting as Orlando's backcourt of Armstrong and Miller outscored
Cleveland's starting guards, Miller and Wesley Person, 33-14.
"I thought they all stepped up," Cavs coach Randy Wittman
said. "Miller in the first half, Garrity in the second. We were a
step behind all night defensively."
Game notes
Wittman said Miller was tired and might have a sore hip. ...
Rivers said the NBA should consider changing its system for fining
players. Because he makes more money, McGrady will lose nearly
$213,000 in salary compared to Jackson's $25,000. "They ought to
make the amount of the fine the same," Rivers said. ... Wittman
said the league makes it difficult to formulate a game plan when it
announces fines and suspensions so late in the day. "They always
wait until 5-5:30 to do it and it doesn't make any sense for
everybody involved." ... Orlando is 3-0 vs. Cleveland this season.
... During one sequence in the fourth quarter, Rivers, a former NBA
guard, told referee Tom Washington he didn't have to call things so
closely. "When I played," Rivers yelled, "if a guy put his hand
on your chest, you could bite it."
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Orlando Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
McGrady hit with two-game suspension by NBA
Jackson says McGrady got carried away
RECAPS
Washington 103
Detroit 96
Charlotte 100
Vancouver 95
Orlando 97
Cleveland 87
Miami 114
Sacramento 104
San Antonio 106
Minnesota 100
Philadelphia 85
Chicago 67
Denver 95
Indiana 83
Phoenix 84
Portland 79
Utah 102
Golden State 83
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