For the Record, It’s Another Magic Loss

The Orlando Magic put up a good fight but still absorbed its team-record 18th consecutive loss, as San Antonio’s Tim Duncan scored a season-high 47 points -- six shy of his career high -- in the Spurs’ 105-94 victory Friday night at Orlando.

The Magic came back from an 18-point deficit in the first half and held a five-point advantage entering the fourth quarter. Tracy McGrady had 16 of his 28 points in the third quarter.

But Orlando missed 16 of 21 shots down the stretch to surpass the previous longest losing streak in franchise history, set in 1991-92. McGrady missed his final nine shots. The Spurs closed the game with an 18-7 run.

Phoenix 110, Boston 106 -- Stephon Marbury made consecutive three-point shots in the final three minutes to cap a 29-point comeback -- the largest in Sun history -- at Boston.

Marbury scored 21 of his 34 points in the second half after Boston took a 65-36 lead with the first field goal of the third quarter. Phoenix’s largest previous comeback was 27 points at Dallas on March 2, 1997.

New Jersey 93, Milwaukee 86 -- Kenyon Martin had 20 points and 21 rebounds, and Jason Kidd had 16 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his 54th triple-double, helping the Nets end a four-game losing streak. The game at East Rutherford, N.J., was played in front of about 3,000 because of a snowstorm.

Philadelphia 93, Miami 90 -- Allen Iverson scored 35 points -- including the game’s final points with 21 seconds left -- and the 76ers held on at Miami. The Heat, who trailed by 19 points with three minutes left in the third quarter, missed three three-point shots down the stretch that would have tied the score, including a 24-footer by Lamar Odom with two seconds left.

Memphis 92, Washington 77 -- At Memphis, Tenn., Bonzi Wells made his debut with the Grizzlies and had 12 points and six assists to help them win their fourth in a row. Wells was acquired Wednesday from Portland.

Toronto 92, Atlanta 87 -- Jalen Rose had 22 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, and Vince Carter also scored 22 points at Toronto to help the Raptors win their third in a row.

Denver 98, Golden State 91 -- The Nuggets have their first six-game winning streak in almost 13 years. They have won seven in a row at home, nine of 11 overall and are off to their best start since 1989-90. They extended their Midwest Division lead to one game over Dallas.

Houston 83, New Orleans 74 -- Former Clipper Maurice Taylor came off the bench to score 17 points to help the Rockets win at New Orleans.

Indiana 101, Seattle 94 -- Jermaine O’Neal scored 30 points and Al Harrington, starting in place of the injured Ron Artest, had 18 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Pacers at Seattle. The Pacers trailed, 45-44, at halftime, but outscored the SuperSonics in the third quarter, 36-15.

Portland 88, New York 81 -- At Portland, Damon Stoudamire made a jump shot with 30.9 seconds left to give the Trail Blazers an 86-81 lead after the Knicks’ Charlie Ward missed two consecutive long jumpers.

Minnesota 112, Sacramento 109 -- Kevin Garnett made consecutive three-point shots to force overtime at Sacramento, and Latrell Sprewell made two key field goals in the extra period as the Timberwolves ended the Kings’ winning streak at eight.