Orlando Magic Team Report - January 30

(Basketball News) - The Orlando Magic were defeated by the New Jersey Nets, 89-79, on Thursday at TD Waterhouse Centre.

Tracy McGrady paced the Magic with 22 points. Keith Bogans chipped in 13 points and Rod Strickland finished with 12 for Orlando, which has dropped 13 of its last 18 contests.

The Nets extended a four-point halftime lead to 61-49 on a dunk by Kenyon Martin with five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Another basket by Martin made it 65-52 with 3:41 left in the period.

Orlando was able to cut the deficit to seven points on two occasions, the last time at 73-66 on a jumper by Strickland with 7:36 remaining in the fourth quarter.

However, Lucious Harris scored all eight points during an 8-2 run that staked New Jersey to a commanding 81-68 advantage with just over five minutes left.

Richard Jefferson’s three-pointer with 2:28 remaining gave the Nets their largest lead at 87-73.

McGrady has scored in double digits in 16 straight games and has scored more than 30 points in 11 of those contests.

The Magic are off until Saturday when they host the Los Angeles Clippers.