The Orlando Magic stormed to a season-high seventh consecutive win with a 111-82 rout of the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
Vince Carter scored a team-high 23 points in just 26 minutes as the Magic outscored their opponents 65-33 during the first half to quickly put the contest out of reach.
Orlando (46-20) posted five players in double figures for scoring to maintain their Southeast Division lead at four games over the Atlanta Hawks.
It was a sixth straight loss for the Bulls (31-33), whose night started badly when point guard Derrick Rose hurt his wrist in the first quarter after a collision with Dwight Howard and did not return.
Rose’s injury was the latest for Chicago, who were without leading defender Joakim Noah, sidelined with a foot ailment, and Luol Deng, who has a calf strain.
“They started the game a little undermanned, and then obviously when Rose went down, they were very undermanned,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters.
James Johnson scored a team-high 13 points for the Bulls, who shot just 39 percent as they fell to their longest losing streak since 2006.
Chicago (31-33) are currently outside of the playoff picture in ninth place in the Eastern Conference.
Orlando, however, are on the rise and hitting form as the postseason approaches. Matt Barnes put in 14 points and Brandon Bass notched 13 off the bench during a complete team effort.
“Right now we’re trying to play the best basketball we can, hopefully roll it into the playoffs,” Carter said. “We’re hitting the floor running, playing at a high level, and each and every night the opponent doesn’t matter, it’s more about what we need to do to get better.”
Hawks 105, Wizards 99
In Washington, Jamal Crawford scored 29 points to lead Atlanta over Washington.
Joe Johnson and Al Horford each scored 18 points in Atlanta’s first trip to the capital this season for a game that was postponed on Feb. 6 because of a blizzard.
Andray Blatche had 30 points and 10 rebounds for Washington, in the midst of a stretch of three games in three nights because of the schedule change.
Crawford scored 12 points in the final 3 minutes, 37 seconds of the third quarter, making six free-throws and connecting on two of his four three-pointers.
Trail Blazers 110, Warriors 105
In Oakland, California, Portland overcame a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Golden State.
Brandon Roy scored 41 points, while Andre Miller added 15 points and seven assists for the Blazers, who put together a late 17-3 run. The comeback could prove vital as Portland cling onto eighth spot in the Western Conference.
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