Vucevic, Ross help Magic hold off Knicks 114-100

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Nikola Vucevic had 29 points and 13 rebounds and Terrence Ross scored 23 points off the bench as the Orlando Magic beat the New York Knicks 114-100 Wednesday night.

Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon had 19 points apiece for Orlando, which is chasing Miami for the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Mario Hezonja scored 22 of his 29 points in the second half for New York. Kevin Knox scored 21 points and Emmanuel Mudiay had 13 points and 10 assists for the Knicks, who have lost seven of eight.

New York cut a 13-point halftime deficit to two points late in the third quarter, but Ross singlehandedly stopped the rally with three straight 3-pointers that gave Orlando an 85-74 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Hezonja helped New York get as close as 93-86 in the fourth quarter, but the Knicks didn’t have enough firepower to sustain the rally.

Orlando used a pair of 3-pointers from Gordon to stop two New York runs, and the Magic needed only one field goal in the final four minutes to comfortably close out the game.

Orlando led 58-45 at halftime, but lacked energy at the defensive end at the start the second half. Hezonja, a first-round pick by Orlando in 2015, scored eight straight points and 12 in the quarter to help the Knicks cut the deficit to 76-74 with 1:23 left in the quarter.

That’s when Ross stepped in and quickly turned things around. He hit three 3s, the last crashing through the net with one-tenth of a second left in the period, giving Orlando an 85-74 lead.

The Magic went right at Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, who had 15 blocks in two games against Orlando earlier this season. Johnson didn’t get a block Wednesday.

Vucevic successfully challenged Robinson in the post and Fournier drove right at him from the perimeter throughout the first half. Vucevic had 17 points and Fourner 16 to help Orlando to a 58-45 advantage.

TIP-INS

Knicks: Hezonja replaced Luke Kornet in the starting lineup. Kornet scored 41 points, had 14 rebounds and six blocks as a starter the previous two games. . The Knicks were just 1 for 12 on 3-pointers in the first half. . Mitch Robinson didn’t get a block, stopping his run of consecutive games with a block at 34.

Magic: Orlando has allowed its last three opponents to shoot 50.7 percent (132 of 260) from the field, including 45 of 96 (46.9 from 3-point territory. The Knicks shot only 22.2 % (6 of 27) against Orlando. . Ross, who hit just 10 of 36 (27.7 %) of his 3-pointers in the last five games, hit five of 10 against New York.

UP NEXT

Knicks: At Houston on Friday night.

Magic: Host Atlanta on Friday night.