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Rockets finish strong to down Magic

Mar 18, 2015 - 5:00 AM Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Donatas Motiejunas netted 23 points to lead six Rockets in double figures as Houston pulled away from the Orlando Magic 107-94 on Tuesday.

James Harden, Trevor Ariza and Josh Smith all scored 17 points for the Rockets, who improved to 15-3 at home since December 31.

"That's the beauty of this team, we had five or six guys in double figures," said Harden. "That means the ball is moving around and guys are getting good shots."

Corey Brewer had 13 points and 12 rebounds off the bench and Patrick Beverley added 12 points with seven assists.

Victor Oladipo scored a game-high 29 points for Orlando, which lost for the fifth straight time.

"We missed a few open looks," said Oladipo. "At the end of the day, we have to step up and hit our shots."

It was tight the whole way until Houston pulled away late.

Oladipo's layup with 4:42 left in the game had the Magic within two, but Beverley and Brewer hit threes around a trio of misses from deep at the other end. Beverley then made a floater and Harden highlighted a 13-0 run with a stepback 3.

Ben Gordon's jumper with 40.7 seconds left was Orlando's only basket after the Oladipo layup.

Oladipo scored 11 points in the first quarter and Gordon netted 11 in the second, as Orlando was within one at halftime.

Houston's lead slipped away midway through the third, when Elfrid Payton hit a rare jumper. Orlando scored seven straight late in the period to go up 78-71, but Smith gave the Rockets momentum into the fourth with two 3s to close out the stanza.

Game Notes

Magic forward Tobias Harris left the game with a sprained left ankle ... Houston has won five of six in the series ... The Rockets haven't lost at home to an Eastern Conference opponent since the Wizards on Dec. 29 ... Magic center Nikola Vucevic had 11 points and 11 rebounds.