Magic 111, Warriors 85

Saturday December 14, 2002

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) The Orlando Magic are putting Horace Grant and their lopsided loses behind them.

Tracy McGrady had 36 points and Grant Hill returned from a one-game rest of his surgically repaired ankle to score 16 points in 27 minutes as Orlando avenged the worst loss in franchise history by beating Golden State 111-85 Friday night.

The Magic, who lost 135-92 at Golden State on Nov. 16, released Grant this week because of a rift with coach Doc Rivers.

``Things happen, situations come up,'' said Darrell Armstrong, who added 11 points for the Magic. ``You've just got to move on. When it's affecting the team, then you have to do something about it. It was definitely affecting our team and the guys. This team is going to have to stay together and be as one.''

Orlando appeared unified Friday night after losing the previous three games by a combined 58 points.

``Sometimes there are things that snap your team back together,'' Rivers said. ``One win, I don't know if that does, it but I tell you what, our guys were really pulling for each other tonight. I don't know if anyone would have beat us tonight.''

Pat Burke had a season-high 13 points for the Magic, and Pat Garrity added 12 points. Orlando played without second leading scorer Mike Miller, sidelined by strep throat.

McGrady said he knew his teammates were focused.

``Saw it on the guys' faces, just by their body language, they were ready to play,'' McGrady said. ``Really, we didn't have to say anything. We knew what we had to do tonight. We had to put all that other stuff behind us, just really concentrate on Golden State. I think we did a great job of that.''

McGrady's layup at 8:12 in the first quarter put Orlando ahead 9-7 and in the lead for good. Orlando led by 14 at halftime and 23 at the end of the third. In the fourth, Orlando went ahead by as many as 32 using mostly substitutes.

Antawn Jamison led Golden State with 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting, but his teammates were a combined 19-for-63.

``None of us played well, including myself,'' said Jason Richardson, who finished with four points. ``I didn't do anything to help guys out and we didn't get each other going.

``They were ready to play us. When you beat an NBA team like that at home, the next time they play you they remember that. They wanted to do that to us tonight and they did.''

Rivers commented on his decision to cut Grant.

``I think this is the best thing we've done in a while for this team,'' Rivers said. ``Obviously we've taken a guy off our team that talent-wise could have helped our team. But chemistry-wise, I think it was a perfect move for this basketball team.

``I don't think he's a bad guy. I just don't think things worked out for me and him and sometimes in relationships, that happens. Same thing in marriages, you have divorces. That doesn't mean either guy is bad. So he can call me what he wants, but I'm not going to call him a bad guy.''< ^Notes:@ The Magic activated Olumide Oyedeji (back strain) from the injured list. He played five minutes. ... McGrady had a season-high five steals. ... Mills' 12 points also were a season high.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)