LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Nikola Vucevic finished with 31 points and 15 rebounds as the Orlando Magic snapped the Los Angeles Lakers’ three-game winning streak with a 108-104 victory on Sunday.
Terrence Ross had 16 points including a clutch layup with 34 seconds left as the Magic beat the Lakers for the second time in eight days. On November 17, Orlando defeated Los Angeles 130-117.
Aaron Gordon had 17 points and D.J. Augustin added 12 points and nine assists for the Magic.
LeBron James had 24 points and seven assists for the Lakers, who have won six of their last seven NBA games. Kyle Kuzma scored 21 points and Brandon Ingram added 17.
The Magic used a rock-solid defence and some timely scoring by Gordon and Vucevic to outscore the Lakers 35-19 in the third quarter and seize a 86-71 lead.
James and Kuzma were a combined zero-for-five in the quarter in which the team shot just five-of-21.
In the fourth, James missed a three-pointer and Ross made him pay by driving to the rim for a basket which broke a 104-104 tie.
The Lakers’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope missed another shot from beyond the arc on the following Lakers possession, and Gordon got a dunk to help seal the victory for the Magic.
© Agence France-Presse