Magic Beat Blazers 110-104 To End 12-Game Skid

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — J.J. Redick scored 22 points, Nikola Vucevic added 17 points and 19 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic snapped a 12-game losing streak with a 110-104 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night.
 
   The Magic shot 50 percent from the field in earning their first win since Jan. 16. They play their next two games at home.  Reserve Gustavo Ayon had 16 points and 11 rebounds for Orlando.
 
   LaMarcus Aldridge led Portland with 25 points. Nicolas Batum added 19 points and Wesley Matthews chipped in 17.
 
   The Blazers, who have lost three in a row overall, fell to 1-7 in their last eight road games. They play at Miami on Tuesday and New Orleans on Wednesday before the All-Star break.
 
   Orlando held a 79-72 lead entering the final quarter but had to push back against multiple attempts at a run by the Blazers down the stretch.
 
   Portland closed to 103-95 with less than 3 minutes to play, but the Magic answered with a 3-pointer by Redick and a layup by Ayon to push the cushion back to 13 with just over a minute remaining.
 
   Redick returned to action Sunday after missing three consecutive games with a sore right shoulder and instantly injected some  energy into the Magic's lineup.
 
   Usually most effective with his outside shot, Redick did his scoring with a variety of cuts to the basket and layups off fast breaks. He attempted only a pair of 3-pointers through the first three quarters, but still managed 17 points over that span.
 
   The Magic led by as many as nine late in the second quarter before Batum went on a one-man 11-2 scoring run to tie it. Orlando responded with a 9-3 run to end the half, taking a 55-49 lead into the locker room. 
 
   Orlando had just five turnovers in the half and also outscored the Blazers 9-0 on second-chance points.
 
   Notes: Orlando is the second straight opponent to shoot at least 50 percent against Portland. ...Magic rookie F Andrew Nicholson was chosen to replace injured Detroit C Andre Drummond in the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star weekend in Houston. He joins Vucevic, who will play on the opposing team in the game. Asked if he was concerned about either player on his injury-riddled team getting hurt, Magic coach Jacque Vaughn replied, "That's a nightly prayer."  ... Magic F Hedo Turkoglu missed his third straight game with flu-like symptoms. ... Hall of Famer Julius Erving was in attendance Sunday night.

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