Magic 74 - 101 Nuggets
Final
  for this game

Nuggets rout Magic

Apr 23, 2012 - 4:16 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - JaVale McGee had 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, while Danilo Gallinari added 17 points and seven boards as the Denver Nuggets routed the Orlando Magic, 101-74, on Sunday.

Ty Lawson provided 13 points and 10 assists, and Andre Miller dished out 11 helpers for the Nuggets, winners in six of their past eight games. Aaron Afflalo netted 15 points.

"I think we're getting better overall and hopefully it carries into the playoffs," Afflalo said.

The Nuggets had a colossal 64-24 points in the paint advantage.

Denver is a half-game ahead of idle Dallas for the sixth seed in the Western Conference with two road tilts remaining against Oklahoma City and Minnesota.

Ryan Anderson finished with 24 points and nine boards for Orlando, which needs one victory over its last two contests to clinch the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Magic play Charlotte at home and Memphis on the road to close the regular season.

Orlando is 3-7 without its All-Star center and three-time NBA defensive player of the year Dwight Howard, who is out for the remainder of the season after undergoing season-ending surgery on a herniated disc in his back.

"We simply can't guard anyone right now," Orlando head coach Stan Van Gundy said.

Trailing 73-64 heading into the final frame, the Magic whittled the deficit to six after Glen Davis drained two foul shots and Von Wafer split a pair from the charity stripe.

But the Nuggets countered with an 18-6 surge to seize control of the contest.

McGee, who had four dunks and eight points during the run, capped the burst with a one-handed, alley-oop flush off a Corey Brewer feed to give the Nuggets a commanding 91-71 advantage with 3:29 remaining.

Earlier, Gallinari netted nine first-quarter points as Denver led, 24-19, after a period of play.

The Magic battled back in the second to tie the game at 44 heading into the locker room.

Game Notes

Denver shot 56.4 percent from the field while Orlando was just 37.3 percent from the floor...The Magic were 6-of-23 from beyond the arc...Denver outrebounded Orlando, 43-33.






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