Orlando Magic Team Report - March 16

(Basketball News) - The Orlando Magic were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers, 113-110, in overtime on Monday at the Staples Center.

LA’s Gary Payton hit the deciding three-pointer in overtime that gave the Lakers a 113-110 lead. Orlando looked for star Tracy McGrady at the other end, but teammate DeShawn Stevenson ended up missing the final attempt.

McGrady scored 37 points with 10 assists to lead the Magic, who have dropped four of five. Juwan Howard added 29 points and nine rebounds in the loss.

LA trailed by as many as 19 points in the third quarter, but rode Kobe Bryant’s hot hand for a fourth-quarter comeback. The Lakers pulled within 91-86 on a Bryant jumper inside the 8:00 mark, but Orlando went ahead by 10 moments later and still led by double digits with 4:00 left.

Bryant then led the Lakers on a 10-0 run to close out regulation. His fade- away jumper at 2:22 made it a 102-100 game, and a driving layup with 41 seconds left tied it at 102-102.

McGrady nearly ended things in regulation on an inbounds play with 1.5 ticks remaining. His desperation heave under heavy guard from Shaquille O’Neal and Payton banked in, but was released too late.

The Magic are off until Wednesday when they visit the Golden State Warriors. Earlier this season, Orlando defeated the Warriors, 119-93, on December 19, 2003 at the TD Waterhouse Centre.

McGrady has averaged 33.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists in his last 10 games.