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Gordon and Magic down Timberwolves in OT

Nov 8, 2014 - 5:23 AM Orlando, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Aaron Gordon scored 17 points and made a number of highlight reel plays down the stretch as the Orlando Magic topped the Minnesota Timberwolves, 112-103, in overtime.

Gordon had played sparingly off the bench in his young NBA career, but enjoyed a coming-out party on Friday. The fourth overall pick in the 2014 draft shot 6-of-9 from the floor for 17 points and pulled down six rebounds while fellow rookie Elfrid Payton netted 15 points and handed out a team-high four assists.

"Basketball is less fun to me if I'm not playing all out, all the time," Gordon said. "It's just what I do. I really like that aspect."

Tobias Harris scored 17 points with 16 rebounds for Orlando, winners in two straight after opening the season with four losses.

Kevin Martin scored 21 points for Minnesota, which lost point guard Ricky Rubio to a sprained ankle in the second quarter. Corey Brewer and Nikola Pekovic added 16 apiece.

"It was real tough for us, but we still had a chance to win," Pekovic said, referring to the Rubio injury. "In the future, we have to do something more about that."

Mo Williams made two free throws with 2:02 left in the fourth to break a tie and put the Wolves in front. Both teams came up empty until the Orlando's final possession, when the Magic tied the game to force overtime.

Out of a timeout with under 30 seconds remaining, the Magic triple-teamed Martin near midcourt. Maurice Harkless poked the ball free and Payton came up with a steal. Payton led a 3-on-1 fastbreak the other way, but his bounce pass to Devyn Marble was too low and Williams had time to recover and swat the layup attempt out of bounds.

Nikola Vucevic drew a foul when play resumed and made both free throws with 11.9 seconds left. Minnesota took the clock all the way down, with Martin's runner rimming out as time expired.

On Minnesota's first possession of overtime, Gordon's stellar defense on Thaddeus Young allowed Vucevic to come up with a steal. Vucevic then rewarded Gordon, who threw down a two-handed jam plus a foul. Orlando led the rest of the way.

Payton's bank shot at 2:17 made it a four-point game and Gordon's corner 3 out of a timeout sealed the outcome. Both players got a standing ovation from the home crowd as they checked out of the game late.

There were 17 ties and 17 lead changes in a back-and-forth affair. Midway through the second quarter, the Wolves led by eight, but Orlando kept it close and trailed by just five, 52-47, at halftime.

Neither team led by more than three in the third quarter.

Game Notes

Orlando has won seven straight games at home against Minnesota. The Wolves last won in Orlando in 2008 ... The Magic won the rebounding margin, 52-38 ... Magic power forward Kyle O'Quinn missed his fifth straight game with a sprained ankle ... Vucevic finished with 14 points and nine rebounds before fouling out.