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Friday, Dec. 3 9:00pm ET
Armstrong bounces back, bonks Nuggets | |||||
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
DENVER (AP) -- Darrell Armstrong didn't waste any time rebounding from his worst game of the season. Armstrong, who went 0-for-11 from the field the previous night, scored 20 points as the Orlando Magic defeated the Denver Nuggets for the fifth straight time, 112-100 Friday night. "I shot badly last night and some nights you have that happen," said Armstrong, who scored only two points at Minnesota on Thursday. "But I felt like I played well because I did all the little things that win games." Armstrong again did those little things, getting seven assists and three rebounds against the Nuggets. He also shot 7-for-11 from the field for the Magic, who haven't lost to the Nuggets since March 12, 1996. "Scoring is just scoring," Armstrong said. "It can win you some games, but if all you have is scorers and no defense, you are going to be in trouble." Antonio McDyess had 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Chauncey Billups had a season-high 20 points for Denver, which had its five-game home winning streak snapped. Raef LaFrentz had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Nuggets, who shot only 38 percent from the field. "We weren't ready to play and that was my fault," Denver coach Dan Issel said. "Our 20 turnovers led to 29 points in what was an embarrassing effort." The Magic took an 84-78 lead into the fourth quarter and extended it to 88-78 on a tip-in and dunk by John Outlaw in the first minute of the final period. Billups hit two free throws for Denver, but John Amaechi then made two jumpers in an 8-0 run gave the Magic a 96-80 lead. Chris Gatling's tip gave Orlando its biggest lead of the game, 101-82. Billups' 3-pointer and a jumper by McDyess got Denver as close as 106-95, but Amaechi hit two free throws and a hook shot over the last 1:08 for Orlando. Amaechi finished with 16 points. "Winning back-to-back games is huge," said Orlando coach Glenn Rivers. "We played last night and still had a lot of energy." Leading 54-53 at halftime, the Magic hit seven of their first 10 shots in the third quarter for a 69-61 lead. Denver closed to 73-72 on a layup and free throw by Billups and Nick Van Exel's 3-pointer, but jumpers by Gatling and Chucky Atkins put Orlando up 84-76. Denver led for all but the final 11 seconds of the second quarter. Billups hit a 3-pointer with 3:27 left to put the Nuggets up 50-43, but the Magic closed the quarter with a 11-3 run to take a one-point lead at the break. The Nuggets scored 14 straight points to take a 16-6 lead. Two free throws by Atkins and a dunk by Anthony Parker for Orlando closed the gap to 28-22. "I thought we had turned a corner, but this game reminded me of last year," said Billups, referring to last year's 14-36 season. We didn't do much of anything and that isn't a good sign for us as we begin a tough six-game road trip." Game notesDenver's Ron Mercer was sidelined with a sinus infection. Orlando and Denver last played on Jan. 13, 1998. ... Orlando is 5-1 on the second night of back-to-back games. ... McDyess has scored in double-figures 66 straight games. ... Armstrong's consecutive free-throw streak ended at 35, the third-longest in franchise history. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Orlando Clubhouse Denver Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 96 Miami 84
Orlando 112
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