The Magic kept their slim Eastern Conference playoff hopes alive with a sixth straight win, but didn't get the two losses they needed even more.
Jameer Nelson had 27 points and all five Orlando starters scored in double figures as the Magic handed the Toronto Raptors their tenth straight defeat, 103-96 Wednesday night.
The win keeps Orlando in the hunt for an eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, but just barely.
GAME: Orlando Magic (34-44) at San Antonio Spurs (60-18).
TIME: Thursday, 8:30 p.m. EDT.
Having been handed a little breathing room in their quest for the best record in the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs try to move closer to clinching it as they look to cool off the Orlando Magic.
San Antonio had the night off Wednesday, but saw its lead atop the West increase to 1 1/2 games thanks to Dallas losing 114-102 to lowly Golden State.
ORLANDO, Magic (Ticker) - Not surprisingly, the Orlando Magic on Monday exercised their options to extend the contracts of forward-center Dwight Howard and guard Jameer Nelson through the 2007-08 season.
The rebuilt Orlando Magic definitely have it together when playing on their home floor. Now it's a matter of taking the new act on the road. Orlando beat Atlanta 108-101 Sunday, improving to 7-1 at home since trading for Darko Milicic, Carlos Arroyo and Trevor Ariza. The Magic are 1-10 on the road in that same period, with games at Chicago and Minnesota up next.
Trailing by 10 points early in the first quarter and in the midst of a franchise-record 16-game road losing streak, Orlando Magic head coach Brian Hill knew exactly where to turn. The bench. Orlando's reserves outscored Philadelphia's bench 50-28 and the Magic pulled away for a 102-86 win over a 76ers team that is fighting for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Orlando Magic extended the contracts of second-year players Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson through the 2007-08 season. The franchise is building around Howard, who is averaging 15 points and 12 rebounds this season and has started all but one game since joining the NBA. The 20-year-old also averaged a double-double his rookie year, joining Emeka Okafor as the first rookies to accomplish that...
Orlando Magic forward Grant Hill wants to play again, though not if he would need additional surgery. Hill said Tuesday he hopes rehabilitation will fix his sports hernia injury, and indicated he would consider retiring rather than undergo another procedure. "I've had enough (surgery)," said Hill, who had hernia surgery on Oct.
In a matchup of the present and future of NBA power forwards, Kevin Garnett showed Dwight Howard that he still has a lot to learn. Garnett dominated with 27 points, 19 rebounds and six assists to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 103-91 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. "Howard is going to be a great player in this league," Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey said.
To Keyon Dooling, the playoffs are more than just wishful thinking. They're a realistic possibility for the Orlando Magic. "We're definitely going to try to crash in on it," Dooling said. "We've seen some crazy things happen." And Tuesday's 97-93 victory over the Chicago Bulls only strengthened his belief.