Fournier scores 24, Gordon 22 as Magic rally to beat Celtics

But Friday night might have been the best game yet. The Magic were at times sloppy with the ball Friday as they turned the ball over 16 times resulting in 22 points for Boston. Boston have now won three of their last five games by double digits to improve to 27-21 on the season and 14-10 at home. “I was just trying to get fouled”.

Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) puts up a three-point basket in front of Boston Celtics forward Jonas Jerebko (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016.

The Celtics’ starting lineup has had its share of highlights this season.

The Boston Celtics invade the Amway Center on Sunday night to take on the Orlando Magic. “We’ve had that continuity and just getting used to each other and playing together, and really carving out roles”.

It’s early, but the win moved the sizzling Celtics into a tie for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Dwyane Wade scored 24 points and hit a long jumper with 44.5 seconds left, and the Miami Heat won their third straight road game by beating the Milwaukee Bucks.

Orlando had lost 12 of its last 13 going into the game and looked headed for another defeat when its defense and perimeter shooting came alive. “We’ve got to do something about it because we’re playing soft right now”, guard Victor Oladipo told the media. Evan Fournier led Orlando with 24 points and he buried a pair of critical 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

Kelly Olynyk continued his ascension as an offensive force, tying the team-high with 16 points on 7-12 shooting. The Magic were balanced with six players in double-figure scoring. He also grabbed eight rebounds as his streak of double-doubles ended at six games. LeBron James had 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, shrugging off a rare missed dunk in the third quarter. Isaiah Thomas scored 23 points but only had four assists tonight after the team shot 41.9 percent from the field compared to the 50.0 percent they shot a couple of nights ago. “I think if you hold yourself to a higher standard, things that happen, you just go with the flow”. “He’s active; he feels comfortable”. And then, the way we like to play, I like having multiple ball handlers on the floor at once.

A strong second half by Orlando propelled them to the victory.

The Magic have an incredible hard schedule coming up as they have to play the Spurs & Hawks twice, the Clippers, and Thunder in the next 6, so this win was important to get some confidence going.

The Celtics showed a video tribute during a first-quarter timeout saluting Thomas making the All-Star team. “He shouldn’t have to coach effort”, Fry said…. “I’m excited about the fact that he’s being recognized”.

Apparently Corbin didn’t like what Turner had to say, because the referee hit the swingman with two quick technical fouls and ejected him from the game. “It was fun to hear his enthusiasm, hear his excitement in that moment”, Stevens said. The Celtics pulled away for a 113-94 win over the Magic at home on Friday night, running their winning streak to a season-high five and handing Orlando its eight consecutive loss. The Magic shot 56.8 percent and limited Boston to just 40 percent in the second half. Orlando big man Jason Smith, who suffered a stinger Tuesday night and skipped Friday’s shootaround, played 11 minutes in Friday’s game…. That’s caused his season 3-point percentage to rise from 19.5 percent entering last Sunday’s game to 26.3 percent a week later.