HOLDING visiting Miami to just eight fourth-quarter points, the Orlando Magic set a franchise record in rallying from 22 points down at the start of the final period to beat the Heat 121-114 on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
Orlando, having trailed by as many as 25 points in the first half, began chipping away at the deficit with a 13-0 run to open the fourth quarter. The Magic then went on another 11-0 run to take their first lead since the early first quarter.
The runs were powered by the trio of Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Goga Bitadze, who combined to score 21 of Orlando’s 37 fourth-quarter points, including the final 17 points that sealed the comeback victory. The 25-point comeback is tied for the largest in franchise history. Orlando also overcame a 25-point deficit on Nov. 8, 1989, at Cleveland.
Anthony’s 35 points and nine assists off the bench were season highs. Caldwell-Pope added 24 points, half of which came on a perfect 12-of-12 shooting from the free-throw line, and Bitadze finished with a double-double, scoring 18 points on 8-of-8 shooting and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Miami was without Jimmy Butler due to a stomach ailment. Despite Butler’s absence, Miami scored 76 first-half points—a team high for one half this season. Bam Adebayo scored 23 points and grabbed six rebounds, Terry Rozier notched another 23 points off the bench and Tyler Herro recorded 22 points, six rebounds and five assists.
In other games, it was the Celtics 123, Bulls 98; Lakers 103, Kings 99; Pistons 133, Suns 125; Knicks 104, Pelicans 93; Spurs 114, Blazers 94
Bucks 112, Wizards 101; Warriors 113, Wolves 103; Grizzlies 128, Hawks 112; Cavs 126, Sixers 99; Mavs 113, Clippers 97; and Jazz 105, Nets 94.
Celtics 123, Bulls 98
Jayson Tatum collected 43 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists to help visiting Boston avoid back-to-back losses by beating Chicago.
Tatum made 16 of 24 field-goal attempts, including 9 of his 15 shots from 3-point range, in 36 minutes. Kristaps Porzingis added 22 points and seven rebounds for Boston, which received 19 points, five rebounds and eight assists from Jaylen Brown. The Celtics have not dropped consecutive games this season.
Nicola Vucevic led the Bulls with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Patrick Williams, Coby White and Zach LaVine each added 14 points for Chicago, which was held to 44 points in the second half. – Field Level Media
Lakers 103, Kings 99
LeBron James scored a game-high 32 points, D’Angelo Russell came off the bench to chip in with 20 and Los Angeles held on to complete a three-day, two-game road sweep of Sacramento.
The Lakers had won the first game of the sequence 113-100 on Thursday night. James complemented his big scoring night with seven rebounds, a team-leading six assists and four steals. He hit 13 of his 24 shots, helping the Lakers outshoot the hosts 48.2 percent to 43.3 percent. Anthony Davis was the Lakers’ top rebounder with 15 to go with 10 points, five assists and three blocks.
De’Aaron Fox paced the Kings with 31 points to go with seven assists. He made three of his five 3-point attempts as Sacramento held a slight 30-27 edge in points from beyond the arc.
