Nikola Vucevic scores 31 points as Orlando Magic beat Los Angeles Lakers for second time in eight days

LeBron James top-scores with 24 points for Lakers

Highlights of the Orlando Magic's visit to the Los Angeles Lakers in week six of the NBA

Nikola Vucevic scored 31 points and grabbed 15 rebounds on Sunday as the visiting Orlando Magic upended the Los Angeles Lakers for the second time in eight days, earning a 108-104 victory.

Game leaders

Orlando Magic

  • Points: Nikola Vucevic - 31
  • Assists: DJ Augustin - 9
  • Rebounds: Nikola Vucevic - 15

 

Los Angeles Lakers

  • Points: LeBron James - 24
  • Assists: LeBron james - 7
  • Rebounds: Lonzo Ball - 10

The Lakers tied the game at 104 with 2:24 remaining on a pair of free throws by LeBron James, but Los Angeles missed four three-point attempts down the stretch.

Terrence Ross made a cutting lay-up with 34 seconds remaining to give the Magic a 106-104 lead, and Aaron Gordon sealed the victory on a dunk with 10 seconds remaining.

Gordon finished with 17 points, while Ross had 16 as Orlando ended a two-game slide. The Magic now have four victories in their past six games.

Image: Nikola Vucevic shoots over LeBron James

James scored 24 points for the Lakers, who have seven victories in their last nine games, but both of those defeats came to the Magic.

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After losing 130-117 at Orlando, the Lakers made a commitment to defense, holding their next three opponents to an average of 95 points per game. That defensive focus was evident early in the Sunday game as the Lakers held Orlando to 19 points in the first quarter.

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The Magic, though, turned things around, starting with a 12-2 run with just under three minutes to play in the first half.

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Orlando held their first lead of the game at 51-49 with less than a minute to play in the second quarter before a James three-pointer put the Lakers up 52-51 at the half.

The Magic's surge continued in the third quarter as they opened on a 15-7 run, forcing the Lakers into eight consecutive missed shots during the stretch.

Orlando held an 86-71 lead after three quarters, having limited the Lakers to 19 points in the period.

Image: Aaron Gordon guards James

Vucevic's 31-point performance came after he scored a season-high 36 points the first time the teams met. Two of his three games with at least 30 points this season have come against the Lakers.

DJ Augustin scored 12 points and had nine assists for the Magic, while Jonathon Simmons added 10 points.

Kyle Kuzma scored 21 points for the Lakers, while Brandon Ingram added 17. Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball scored nine points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

Sunday night's results

  • Philadelphia 76ers 127-125 Brooklyn Nets
  • Miami Heat 115-125 Toronto Raptors
  • New York Knicks 103-98 Memphis Grizzlies
  • Orlando Magic 108-104 Los Angeles Lakers
  • Phoenix Suns 107-118 Detroit Pistons
  • Charlotte Hornets 123-124 Atlanta Hawks
  • Utah Jazz 133-112 Sacramento Kings
  • Los Angeles Clippers 104-100 Portland Trail Blazers

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