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Sunday, Feb. 18 7:30pm ET
McGrady scores 32, including 15 in fourth

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – The Orlando Magic know they have to beat the New York Knicks to be successful. They just had to figure out how.

Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady scored 10 of the Magic's first 13 points in the fourth quarter.

After losing two games to the Knicks this season by a combined total of four points, Orlando relied on its young stars for a lift and finally beat New York, 96-88 on Sunday.

"We just had to beat this team," Orlando coach Doc Rivers said. "We really did. I didn't know how we were going to do it and I didn't know if it was going to be today. We had to clear this obstacle somehow, mentally and physically."

Tracy McGrady and rookie Mike Miller, both 21-year olds, led the Magic with strong performances. McGrady had 32 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter on 6-of-7 shooting, and Miller made 6-of-11 shots to finish with 15 points.

"I think the difference between today and the last time we played them is we're tougher," Rivers said. "We're the third youngest team in the league and I'm amazed at how quickly the young guys are learning. They are really coming through for us."

McGrady was determined to win, no matter what the cost.

"I wasn't losing this game," McGrady said. "I felt like we should have beat them the previous two times, but unfortunately we didn't. I really, really wanted to win this game. I was going to do whatever it took."

Larry Johnson led New York with 25 points and 10 rebounds, but scored only two in the fourth quarter. Latrell Sprewell had 17 points and Chris Childs added 12. The Knicks have dropped four of their last six games.

"We are finding ourselves down and having to fight back into the game," Sprewell said. "We are breaking our momentum. That has been the case lately."

McGrady scored 10 of Orlando's first 13 points of the fourth quarter to put the Magic ahead 83-71 with 8:28 remaining. Childs responded with back-to-back 3-pointers and Sprewell added a basket to cut the Magic's lead to 83-79 at 6:26. Neither team scored again until Pat Garrity hit a 3-pointer with 4:00 left to give Orlando an 86-79 lead.

McGrady hit a 3-pointer at 1:22 that give Orlando a 93-84 lead and put the game out of reach.

"He is so tall and long that he can get his shot whenever he wants over Latrell and Allan (Houston)," Marcus Camby said. "He is one of the best guards in the league.

"Those two shots he hit over me, I was right there. We tried pretty much everything. We were not able to contest his shots."

The Knicks got within four, 88-84, on a field goal by Johnson at 2:21, but could get no closer. Orlando outscored New York 8-4 the rest of the way.

The Magic opened the third quarter with a 12-2 run to take a 54-41 lead, their biggest of the game. The Knicks cut it to 67-65 on a jumper by Charlie Ward with 1:22 remaining. Garrity answered with a 3-pointer to put Orlando up 70-65, but a basket by Ward cut it to three heading into the fourth quarter.

Orlando went ahead 6-5 on a jumper by Miller at 7:47 of the first quarter and never trailed again. McGrady and Bo Outlaw had nine points each as Orlando led 42-39 at halftime.

Game notes
Orlando last had a nine-game win streak Nov. 12 to Dec. 2, 1994. ... Darrell Armstrong has 79 assists and 12 turnovers during the streak. ... McGrady has led Orlando in scoring 34 times. ... Johnson had a season-high points and has led New York in scoring five times. ... Orlando scored 20 points off 18 New York turnovers. The Magic had 11 turnovers.

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RECAPS
San Antonio 92
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Philadelphia 104
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New Jersey 102
LA Clippers 96

Utah 94
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Vancouver 110
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Indiana 110
LA Lakers 109

Orlando 96
New York 88

Washington 101
Denver 98

Atlanta 98
Golden State 91


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