Final
Asik, Rockets down Magic
Apr 2, 2013 - 5:39 AMVideo
Jeremy Lin added 19 points and 11 assists and Francisco Garcia scored 14 points and dished out five assists for the Rockets, who were without James Harden for the second straight game because of a sore foot.
"We've all got to play with pace and movement all the time as a team. I thought that the two games where we really struggled against Indiana and Memphis we're slowed down, we had no pace, no space and no thrust," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. "We just didn't play our style but we've done that periodically throughout the year. It's not like a revelation for anybody that's watching us."
Maurice Harkless poured in a game-high 28 points and Beno Udrih added 17 points and 10 assists for the Magic, who got double-doubles from both Tobias Harris and Nikola Vucevic.
Harris finished with 18 points and 11 boards and Vucevic netted 12 to go with 12 rebounds in the setback.
Houston shot 57.7 percent (15-for-26), while holding Orlando to just 5-for-19 shooting in the first quarter to take a 32-14 lead after the first 12 minutes. Asik and Greg Smith scored 10 points apiece in the first and Garcia chipped in with five points.
The Rockets' lead grew as large as 24 in the second, and held a 65-43 lead at the break.
The Magic pulled within 12 near the midway point of the third, but Houston used 13-6 run to go up 87-68. Orlando closed the frame with a 6-3 swing to make it 90-74 entering the fourth.
Houston was in control for most of the fourth, leading by as much as 20, but the Magic rallied with a 20-6 run to make it a five-point game, 106-101, with 2:05 to go.
"These guys don't quit. No one on this team quits. We've been in a lot of games this year but we always fight back. I love playing with these guys," Harkless said.
The Rockets, however, held the Magic to just two points the rest of the way to lock up their seventh win in 10 games.
Game Notes
Carlos Delfino and Smith finished with 12 points apiece and Dontas Motiejunas added 11 in the victory ... Vucevic recorded his 38th double-double of the season ... The Magic went 19-for-21 from the free throw line ... Magic guard Jameer Nelson missed his second-straight game with a sprained ankle.
- ORLANDO: 103
HOUSTON: 111
Final
Apr 1 10:21 PM - ORLANDO: 74
HOUSTON: 90
End of 3rd
Apr 1 9:44 PM - ORLANDO: 43
HOUSTON: 65
Halftime
Apr 1 9:04 PM - ORLANDO: 14
HOUSTON: 32
End of 1st
Apr 1 8:34 PM - ORLANDO: 0
HOUSTON: 2
1st Quarter - 11:45
Apr 1 8:11 PM
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