Orlando, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Elfrid Payton neared a triple-double and Orlando's role players stepped up in the absence of Nikola Vucevic in the Magic's 103-98 win over the Boston Celtics.
Payton finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists while Victor Oladipo and Tobias Harris netted 22 and 21 points, respectively. Dewayne Dedmon, making his second straight start in place of Vucevic (ankle), finished with 11 points and 16 rebounds.
The Magic improved to 6-6 under interim coach James Borrego.
Isaiah Thomas continued his stellar play off the bench with 21 points and nine assists for Boston, while Brandon Bass contributed 19 points and 17 rebounds in defeat.
Orlando trailed by four late in the fourth when a Maurice Harkless triple ignited a 12-0 run. Payton put Orlando up with two free throws and out of a timeout, Harris made it a two-possession game with a 3.
Harkless then made his impact felt on the defensive end, intercepting a Marcus Smart pass and taking it coast-to-coast for a flush. Oladipo capped the burst with a layup on the next Magic possession.
Boston could have cut it to five as Jae Crowder flew in for a transition layup, but rookie Aaron Gordon stayed with the play, chased down Crowder and blocked the shot at that last possible second. Orlando came up with the loose ball and Oladipo hit two at the line to seal the win.
Boston led 31-17 after one, but Orlando flipped the script and shot 12-for-18 in the second to pull to within six at halftime.
Game Notes
The two teams will meet again on Friday ... This game featured the two youngest head coaches in the NBA ... Boston guard Avery Bradley missed his second straight game with an elbow injury ... The Celtics led by as many as 20.
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