NBA Game Summary - New York at Orlando
Orlando, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Nikola Vucevic had 28 points and 18 rebounds in the Orlando Magic's 89-83 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
Victor Oladipo added 19 points in a game that featured 21 lead changes and 13 ties. Willie Green and Elfrid Payton tallied 13 and 12 points, respectively, for the Magic (17-39), who snapped a two-game losing streak heading into the All-Star break.
Dewayne Dedmon provided a spark off the bench with six blocks.
"Dewayne was fantastic," said Magic interim head coach James Borrego. "I think he changed the entire complexion of the game -- his energy, the way he competed. He protected the paint. He protected the rim."
Orlando, however, lost starting forward Channing Frye to a dislocated left index finger.
Jason Smith ended with 25 points and seven boards for the Knicks (10-43), who have lost five in a row. Andrea Bargnani and Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.
New York was without forwards Carmelo Anthony (knee) and Lance Thomas (undisclosed).
The back-and-forth battled was tied 75-75 with 5:46 to play. The Magic followed with a 12-2 run to pull away. Vucevic tallied eight points during the surge to make it an 87-77 contest.
The Knicks never got closer than six the rest of the way.
"It was 75-75 ... and the referees missed some calls sometimes, but that definitely changed the momentum, I think, in my opinion," said Knicks coach Derek Fisher. "We didn't have our closer out there, and some guys that weren't comfortable trying to squeeze that one out for us."
Orlando led 64-60 after the first 36 minutes featured 21 lead changes and 10 ties.