Lauri Markannen made two of three free throws with 1.5 seconds left to give the Chicago Bulls a 110-109 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night in the first game after the All-Star break for both teams.
After being fouled by Aaron Gordon on a 3-pointer, Markannen missed the first attempt, the Bulls' only miss of the game in 19 attempts, and hit the second two. Markannen finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds.
Evan Fournier, whose 3-pointer gave Orlando a one-point lead with 6.3 seconds left, missed a shot after the buzzer. The Magic had won a season-high five straight games.
Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) celebrates after making a three-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP PhotoPhelan M. Ebenhack)
Zach LaVine added 22 points for the Bulls, Robin Lopez had 18, and Otto Porter Jr. 17. Fournier led Orlando with 22 points, and Nikola Vucevic had 19 points and 13 rebounds.
The Magic missed 11 of 24 free throws, two by B.J. Augustin with 34 seconds left. He went into the game as the NBA's 12th-leading free-throw shooter at 87.3 percent.
TIP-INS
Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen (24) watches from the floor after being fouled by Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon on a three-point shot at the end of the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP PhotoPhelan M. Ebenhack)
Bulls: The scheduled morning shootaround at an Orlando high school was canceled because of concerns about the floor, which did not have a 3-point line.
Magic: David Steele, who called his 2,396th game as the team's radio or TV voice, was inducted as the eighth member of the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame. . . . A win would have given the Magic their longest winning streak in seven years. . . . After five full days off, coach Steve Clifford said Wednesday's practice "felt like we haven't played for two months."
UP NEXT
Orlando Magic guard D.J. Augustin (14) goes up to shoot in front of Chicago Bulls guard Kris Dunn (32) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP PhotoPhelan M. Ebenhack)
Bulls: Host Boston on Saturday night.
Magic: At Toronto on Sunday.
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen calls out instructions during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP PhotoPhelan M. Ebenhack)
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.
They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.
Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.
76ERS 125, KNICKS 114
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.
With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.
The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.
Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.
NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..
Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.
Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.
Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.
Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
