Nets pull away in fourth to beat Magic 111-104
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- D'Angelo Russell and Caris LeVert each scored 16 points to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 111-104 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night.
Jarrett Allen added 15 points and DeMarre Carroll had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets, who stopped a three-game losing streak. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Joe Harris also scored 14 and Allen Crabbe had 13.
Nikola Vucevic led Orlando with 24 points and 15 rebounds, and Mario Hezonja added 23 points for the Magic, who have lost nine of their last 11. Aaron Gordon added 15 points and D.J. Augustin had 14.
Brooklyn outscored the Magic 17-2 to start the fourth quarter with a combination of great defense and good spacing at the offensive end.
Spencer Dinwiddie started things with a 3-pointer and Harris followed another. When the Magic pressed the perimeter, Brooklyn went inside for dunks and layups from Dante Cunningham and Allen, whose slam with 6:12 left gave Brooklyn a 102-83 lead.
Orlando missed its first 11 shots in the fourth period. Magic coach Frank Vogel sent in bench players for the final four minutes, but the lead didn't get under 10 until the final minute.
Crabbe hit three straight 3-pointers in the middle of the third period to push the Nets to an 81-67 lead, but was subbed after the last one and took his team's offense to the bench with him. The Nets had just one field goal in the final 4:45 of the quarter, opening the door for a Magic rally.
Vucevic started a 14-4 run with a 3-pointer, Augustin added another and by the time Khem Birch tipped in a miss, the Magic had pulled within 85-81 to end the period.
The game started as an offensive shootout with both teams anxious to push the pace and not too anxious to stop the opponent from doing the same.
Carroll hit his first four shots and had 11 points in the first half, when the Nets led by as many as 12 points before settling for a 58-51 halftime advantage.
Vucevic had 14 and Gordon 13 for the Magic, who shot only three free throws for the half.
TIP-INS
Nets: Brooklyn is 11-6 against the Southeast Division this season. . The Nets average 43.7 points off the bench, second in the NBA. Their bench contributed 39 against Orlando.
Magic: G Rodney Purvis got his first NBA start after signing a contract for the rest of the season. Purvis finished two 10-day contracts with Orlando. Purvis was 0 for 6 and scored two points. . It appears the season is over for SG Evan Fournier and SF Terrence Ross, who were both attempting to return from knee injuries.