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Wednesday, Dec. 22 7:30pm ET
Atkins' 22 points off bench propel Magic | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Chucky Atkins said it was as easy as he made it look Wednesday night. The rookie guard scored a season-high 22 points to lead the Orlando Magic past Cleveland 103-97. "When you come off the bench, you basically see everything that has been happening and see what your team is lacking," Atkins said. "It's kind of easier." Atkins scored six points in the final 4:48 as Orlando took advantage of an injury-depleted and turnover-plagued Cavaliers team to earn its fourth straight win. "All my shots were in transition," Atkins said. "My teammates got me wide open and I just shot." Cleveland, with only nine healthy players, battled throughout but committed 10 of its 20 turnovers in the first 9:19 of the fourth quarter and lost its fifth in a row."I was very pleased with the effort seeing how we were short-handed," Cavaliers coach Randy Wittman said. "But we didn't make plays down the stretch and the turnovers killed us." Atkins tied the score at 89 with a layup and after Cleveland turned the ball over on a traveling call, Pat Garrity put the Magic ahead to stay with a layup with 4:42 to play. Bob Sura led Cleveland with 28 points on 11-for-16 shooting from the field. The Cavaliers' other four starters combined to shoot 16-for-51 (31 percent). Shawn Kemp scored 18 points for Cleveland, which was without starting point guard Brevin Knight and reserve forwards Mark Bryant and Danny Ferry. Kemp got his fifth foul with 10:05 left and the Cavs trailing 81-80. He had picked up his play in the second half after making just 1 of 10 shots in the first half. He finished 5-of-15 from the field. Monty Williams had 14 points and Chris Gatling 13 for the Magic, whose reserves outscored the starters, 62-41. "We've actually got more scorers on our second unit," Magic coach Doc Rivers said. "And right now, they are reading the game very well, feeding off each other, blending together." Atkins scored 16 first-half points on a variety of perimeter jumpers to keep the Magic close after Sura's 14-point first quarter helped Cleveland to an early lead. Game notesFerry went on the injured list yesterday with a strained left calf that already caused him to miss six games. ... Knight did not play because of a bruised right shoulder and right hip suffered Monday night in a 100-94 loss to Minnesota. ... Bryant had the flu. ... Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch, his injured left foot in a walking cast, sat at courtside. He entertained the crowd between the third and fourth quarter by tossing a football with the Cavs' mascot. ... Orlando has won 37 of its last 46 games when scoring at least 100 points. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Orlando Clubhouse Cleveland Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 98 Atlanta 81
Orlando 103
LA Clippers 103
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