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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Darrell Armstrong just needed to slow down
a little bit.
|  | | Magic guard Darrell Armstrong made 6 of 10 shots from 3-point range. |
The Orlando point guard got plenty of feedback after the Magic
fell behind by 10 points to Chicago after the first quarter. But
after hearing what his teammates had to say, Armstrong eased up and
keyed Orlando's comback as the Magic defeated the Bulls 113-104
Monday night.
"Sometimes I go a little too fast," said Armstrong, who
finished with a season-high 32 points. "When two or three people
come up to you and tell you to slow down because they can't run
your pace, then I must be moving really fast."
Tracy McGrady kept pace with 28 points and the Magic hit 11 of
21 3-point shots to win their third game in a row following a
four-game slide.
Armstrong, who scored 28 points in the second half, hit 6 of 10
3-pointers. McGrady added nine rebounds, seven assists and three
blocked shots. Reserve Pat Garrity scored 15 and Bo Outlaw had 12
points and 10 rebounds.
Chicago was led by Ron Mercer with 27 points and nine assists.
Elton Brand had 22 points and seven rebounds, but was ejected after
getting called for consecutive technical fouls with 6:04 remaining
in the game.
Fred Hoiberg had 15 points and Michael Ruffin had 10 points and
11 rebounds for the Bulls, who lost their fifth straight game.
Chicago made 28 of 29 free throws and shot 46.8 percent from the
field.
Chicago hit 12 of 13 free throws to start the fourth quarter and
led 94-93, but Orlando finished the game on a 20-10 run.
"We played as well as we have played all year," coach Tim
Floyd said. "We didn't finish very strong; maybe that had
something to do with playing back-to-back nights. We had the game
going where we wanted it in the fourth. Elton got tossed and he's
the guy that we really rely on to get to the line and get us
points."
Brand said he had hoped his first career ejection would have
sparked his team but it didn't happen. When he left the game for
arguing a referee's call, Chicago led 92-91.
"I just regret being ejected and not being able to help out my
teammates, but I needed to speak my peace," Brand said. "I was
hoping that once I was out, the team would step up and win the game
but it didn't happen like that. I usually keep my calm but I felt I
had to speak today."
Magic coach Doc Rivers was pleased that Brand chose to speak up.
"Elton Brand being thrown out may have been our biggest play of
the game," Rivers said. "I have no idea what got him going. I was
just surprised no one came to his rescue. That is a great sign of
Chicago being a young basketball team. When Elton was going off, no
one tried to grab him."
Garrity started the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer that tied
the game at 78, and followed with another on Orlando's next
possession that gave the Magic an 81-79 lead, their first advantage
since Mike Miller's opening-game jumper.
Orlando started the game shooting 1-for-10 and finished the
first quarter 5-of-24 (20.8 percent) as Chicago led 26-16.
Chicago built its lead to 56-36 on a 3-pointer by Khalid El-Amin
with 3:22 left in the second quarter. The Magic answered with an
11-2 run to cut Chicago's lead to 58-47 at halftime.
Game notes
Ruffin's 11 rebounds were a season high. ... Chicago had 25
assists to Orlando's 17. ... Orlando has won nine of the last 10
regular-season meetings with Chicago. ... The comeback from 20
points was Orlando's largest rally in a victory this year.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Chicago Clubhouse
Orlando Clubhouse
RECAPS
New York 104
San Antonio 82
Milwaukee 101
Washington 95
Philadelphia 84
Charlotte 79
New Jersey 84
Atlanta 78
Sacramento 116
Dallas 105
Boston 107
Minnesota 102
Cleveland 107
Golden State 101
Indiana 89
LA Clippers 74
Orlando 113
Chicago 104
LA Lakers 113
Vancouver 112
Denver 122
Seattle 111
Utah 116
Houston 104
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Ron Mercer takes a pass from Elton Brand for an easy layup.
avi: 409 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Tracy McGrady Official Site
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