Payton's triple-double leads Magic over Bulls
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Elfrid Payton had 22 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists -- his second consecutive triple-double -- in leading the Orlando Magic to a 98-91 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night at the Amway Center.
The Magic (24-41) snapped a two-game losing streak. The Bulls (31-33) lost their third consecutive game, putting a dent in their playoff hopes.
Evan Fournier scored 20 points while hitting 3 of 5 from 3-point range. Terrence Ross had 14 points and Aaron Gordon 13.
Jimmy Butler led the Bulls with 21 points. Jerian Grant scored 13 points and hit three of his four 3-point attempts. Robin Lopez had 10 points with nine rebounds, Cristiano Felicio hit 5 of 7 shots for 11 points and Rajon Rondo had eight points.
The Magic took a 87-81 lead early in the fourth after trailing for most of the first three periods. They never lost the lead. Ross hit a 3-pointer for a 91-86 lead with 4:20 remaining. Fournier closed the game with three consecutive free throws.
The Bulls tried to rally late when Grant scored seven points in the final 5:30, but it wasn't enough.
Fournier hit a 3-pointer that tied the game at 77 at the end of the third period. Payton converted a 3-point play and Ross followed with a 3-pointer that cut the Bulls lead to 71-70. Fournier had 12 points in the quarter when the Magic erased a 10-point halftime deficit.
Payton secured his triple double before the third period ended.
The Bulls led 53-43 at intermission after Butler hit a 3-pointer -- his second of the game -- as the buzzer sounded. The Bulls led by as many as 11 points in the first half when they shot 51.2 percent from the field and made 7 of 12 shots from 3-point range.
Butler had 13 points by halftime. Payton had 11 points, seven assists and six rebounds at the break but the Magic shot 39 percent. Their only first-half lead was early in the opening quarter.
The Bull committed eight turnovers in the first two periods, but they also scored 22 points from inside the lane.
NOTES: Magic C Nikola Vucevic missed his third consecutive game with a strained quad muscle. ... Reserve PG Rajon Rondo returned Wednesday after missing one game with an ankle sprain. ... Magic C Nikola Vucevic missed his third consecutive game with a sore right Achilles. "I think it just needs to calm down a little bit," he said before the game. "I feel a little better each day with the rest. Hopefully, it won't be too longer before I'm back." ... Bulls F Jimmy Butler missed the morning practice, but was good to go Friday night. ... When Magic G Evan Fournier hit a 3-pointer in the first quarter, it was the 803rd consecutive game the Magic made at least one 3-pointer, dating back to March 17, 2007. ... Magic G Elfrid Payton, in his third season, became the team's all-time leader in triple doubles (four) earlier this week in a loss to New York. Surprisingly, former players Penny Hardaway and Tracy McGrady each had only two triple-doubles when they played in Orlando. Hedo Turkoglu had three.