Magic shoot 59 percent to down Bulls, snap 6-game skid

By Neal Nachman
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Updated: January 12, 2015

Late in the third quarter Monday night, Nikola Vucevic faced up against Pau Gasol, drove to the hoop and threw down a vicious left-handed dunk over the 7-foot-tall Spaniard.

Gasol and Vucevic landed on their backsides, and every player on the Orlando bench leaped off his seat for perhaps the Magic players’ most exuberant reaction in two and a half years.

The Magic eventually had more to celebrate than that: a rare win.

Playing at a faster pace than they’ve used all season, the Magic beat the rugged, defensive-minded Bulls 121-114 in front of a crowd of 21,302 stunned people at the United Center. Even without wings Tobias Harris and Evan Fournier, who sat out because of injuries, the Magic played with an energy and an effectiveness on offense they’ve rarely shown all season, and they snapped a six-game losing streak.

“We’re going to score when we play the right way and we play the way we did tonight,” Vucevic said.

Vucevic scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while Victor Oladipo scored 13 of his season-high 33 points in the fourth quarter.

“We made great plays and we played fast,” Oladipo said. “That’s why we had a lot of assists. We’ve got to play like that all the time, and it’s got to be a consistent thing no matter what happens. Win or lose, that’s our identity now. That’s the way we play.”

The Magic led by 15 points to begin the fourth quarter and then held on the rest of the way despite shaky play from Vucevic down the stretch, including some misses from the free-throw line, a turnover on an errant pass and a needless foul against Gasol that gave Gasol two free throws.

With 2:17 to go and Orlando clinging to a 109-104 lead, Joakim Noah missed a pair of foul shots.

Oladipo responded on the Magic’s next trip down the court by making a crucial layup.

All 10 players who entered the game for Orlando made at least one basket.

Because of Fournier’s and Harris’ injuries, coach Jacque Vaughn went deep into his bench, putting Devyn Marble into the starting lineup for the second consecutive game, playing Maurice Harkless and using Willie Green for just the second time since Dec. 13.

Green responded well, scoring seven points.

Then again, the entire roster performed well offensively.

The Magic’s 121 points was their season-high point total.

“When we’re aggressive on defense and we’re pushing the pace on offense, more than anything we’ve got more opportunities and we can score more points,” Green said.

Orlando (14-27) played at a faster pace than it has in recent weeks.

Part of Magic’s success stemmed from their defense. They recorded 10 steals, doing a good job of contesting passes. No one had more success than Marble, who had three steals.

But Orlando’s ball movement also was excellent. The Magic recorded 28 assists on their 48 baskets. And all 10 players who took the court made at least one basket.

Vucevic scored almost at will.

One game after scoring a career-high 34 points on 15-of-23 shooting, he scored his 33 points Monday on 16-of-24 shooting.

But everyone will remember his dunk over Gasol.

“That was great, man,” Magic point guard Elfrid Payton said. “I didn’t know he was that athletic. I was so happy. I usually never show emotion, and I even got a little riled up.”

Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, who hadn’t played against the Magic since March 8, 2012, finished with 18 points and seven assists.

The Magic carried a 93-78 lead into the fourth quarter.

But the Bulls (26-13) threatened midway through the fourth quarter when Taj Gibson made a three-point play cut Orlando’s lead to 99-90 with 6:56 to go.

Gordon countered by making a 3 on Orlando’s next trip down the court.

“The only way to overcome inexperience is to get some experience,” Vaughn said. “And to be in games like this, where you take a punch [and] be able to respond, be able to stay resilient? I think overall we played pretty well tonight.”