Nelson rallies Magic past Knicks

Hedo Turkoglu also had 18 points and Tony Battie tallied 14 points for the Magic, who have won two in a row and moved one-half game ahead of the idle New Jersey Nets for seventh in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Dwight Howard added 10 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks for Orlando, which rallied in the final minute for the win.

Stephon Marbury scored 32 points to lead New York, which failed to hold onto a four-point lead with 1:51 left and lost for the fourth straight time. Eddy Curry added 17 points for the Knicks, who fell two games behind the Nets for the final playoff spot in the conference.

New York started the fourth quarter down 70-64 and trailed 72-64 after an early bucket by Turkoglu. The Knicks, though, ran off seven straight points, and Curry later capped a 10-2 run with a hook shot at the 7:23 mark to tie the game at 74.

J.J. Redick answered with a three-pointer to put Orlando back in front, and Turkoglu’s trey with 4:17 left put Orlando ahead 82-77.

New York, however, again had an answer. This time Curry ended an 8-0 run with a three-point play with 1:51 left to give the Knicks an 86-82 edge.

Battie, though, drew the Magic within 86-84 next time down the floor. And, after Malik Rose hit 1-of-2 free throws, Nelson hit the first of two big three-pointers. His second trey with 38 seconds left gave the Magic the lead for good, 90-87.

On the New York possession just prior to Nelson’s go-ahead basket, it appeared Howard committed a goaltending violation on a shot attempt by Marbury. However, no call was made despite objection by New York head coach Isiah Thomas and his players.

New York never recovered. Turkoglu hit two free throws with 21.7 seconds left. Nate Robinson was blocked by Howard with nine seconds left, and Redick hit two more free throws with six seconds remaining to ice the win.

Redick ended with 12 points for the Magic, who led 23-21 after one quarter and trailed 49-45 at halftime.

Game Notes

Orlando beat the Knicks for the first time in three outings this season...New York’s newest addition, Randolph Morris, was in uniform for the first time, but did not play...New York fell to 18-18 at home...The Magic improved to 12-24 on the road.