Reserves lead Magic to win over Wizards

[December 20, 2012]  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- J.J. Redick scored 17 points and fellow reserve E'Twaun Moore had 15 on Wednesday night, leading the Orlando Magic to a 90-83 win over the Washington Wizards.

Redick had four 3-pointers in leading Orlando to its fourth straight win. Arron Afflalo had 15 points for the Magic.

Nene had 20 points off the bench for the Wizards, who lost their fifth in a row. Jordan Crawford added 19 points and six assists.

The Magic took a 76-63 lead into the fourth quarter but started the period shooting 3 for 15, giving the Wizards an opening they failed to capitalize on.

Cartier Martin hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Emeka Okafor scored on a layup to pull Washington to 85-81 with 4:02 left in the game.

The Wizards had three more possessions to cut the lead further, but Okafor missed two shots from five feet and Crawford turned the ball over to stop the rally.

Redick was 3 for 3 from beyond the 3-point line in the first half, but those were the only shots he took as the Magic spread the offense around. Nine Magic players scored at least three or more points and the team shot 51.3 percent for the half, but it only got them a 52-50 halftime lead.

Orlando was up 48-35 with 4:34 left in the second quarter when the shots stopped falling and the defense faltered. Washington scored 11 straight points, the last three coming off a long-range shot by Martin that cut the Wizards deficit to 48-46 with 2:03 left in the half.

Crawford and Nene had carried the Wizards offense to the point. Crawford had three 3-pointers and 15 points while Nene came off the bench and hit 5 of 6 shots for 10 points. The Wizards bench nearly outscored the starters with Nene, Martin, Chris Singleton and Kevin Seraphin accounting for 23 of the 50 points.

The Magic bench was just as effective, particularly at the end of the third period. Moore had a pair of 3-pointers and Redick made his fourth trey of the game as Orlando opened up a 76-63 lead. Redick, Moore and fellow sub Josh McRoberts were a combined 8 for 11 from on 3-pointers in the first three quarters.

NOTES: Magic F Glen Davis had to leave the game with 47.8 seconds with a shoulder injury after being fouled by Okafor. ... Wizards rookie G Bradley Beal sat out the game with a sore back sustained Tuesday in Atlanta. ... Redick is averaging career-highs in points (14.1) and assists (5.0). ... The Wizards are 1-11 on the road this season. ... Washington had 20 assists to 18 for the Magic. It was the first time this season, the Magic won a game where the opponent had more assists.

[Associated Press]

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