Magic Shooting Touch Too Much for Rockets

The Orlando Magic shot the ball so well, there was no way for the Houston Rockets to stop it.

Tracy McGrady scored 39 points and had 12 rebounds to lead the Orlando Magic to a 109-100 victory Saturday night at Houston.

“McGrady’s in a class with [Kevin] Garnett,” Houston Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. “If he were playing in the old days, they would have thought he was from another planet. He’s quick and he’s so long. With that size, he’s a special player.”

Darrell Armstrong scored 27 and Pat Garrity added 17 for Orlando, which never trailed.

Orlando made seven of its first eight shots, including four of five by McGrady, to take a 16-9 lead. The lead reached 33-16 as the Magic made five consecutive three-point baskets late in the quarter.

“That was just an amazing display of shooting,” said Orlando Coach Doc Rivers, whose team shot 61 percent in the first half. “I didn’t think they actually defended us that poorly.”

*

Said Tomjanovich: “It was the best shooting exhibition I’ve seen all year.”

Seattle 99, Boston 79--Gary Payton had 19 points and Brent Barry added 17 points, nine rebounds and nine assists to help the SuperSonics end a three-game home losing streak.

Seattle opened the third quarter with a 14-5 run, including 11 from Payton, to build a 19-point lead at 71-52 with 3:40 left.

SuperSonic forward Rashard Lewis was ejected on his own bobblehead doll night after swearing at referee Ron Olesiak for a no-foul call in the third quarter.

*

Cleveland 114, Chicago 101--Lamond Murray scored 37 points and Tyrone Hill had 16 points and 15 rebounds in his first game of the season for the Cavaliers at Chicago.

Andre Miller had 18 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who have won a season-high four in a row. Hill missed Cleveland’s first 50 games because of chronic back problems.

Chicago played without forward Ron Artest, who sat out after dislocating his right pinkie Friday against New Jersey.