Lakers stifle Magic in second half
LOS ANGELES -- Julius Randle scored 19 points and D'Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram contributed 17 apiece, as the Los Angeles Lakers earned a 111-95 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday night at Staples Center.
Timofey Mozgov collected 15 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers (15-26), winners of three of their last four games. Los Angeles forward Luol Deng had 11 points.
Evan Fournier, Serge Ibaka and Nikola Vucevic paced the Magic (16-23) with 19 points each. Ibaka also grabbed 10 rebounds while Bismark Biyombo had 10 points and 11 rebounds for Orlando, which has lost five of its last six contests.
The Lakers pulled away in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles padded a 12-point third-quarter advantage and led by as much as 18 midway through the fourth. The Magic sliced the margin to 103-93 but they got no closer.
In the third quarter, the Lakers began to create some space as their lead reached double digits. They opened the quarter with a 13-3 spurt after a basket by Russell, giving Los Angeles a 75-63 advantage with 5:05 remaining in the period. Orlando pulled to within seven less than two minutes later, but the Lakers increased the margin to 81-69 by the end of the quarter.
Although the Lakers scored just 19 points in the third, they held the Magic to only nine.
Both teams sizzled with their shooting in the opening period. The Lakers, who led 40-34 after one quarter, made 68.9 percent of their shots to 68.2 percent for the Magic in the first.
However, they cooled considerably in the second period, with Orlando managing 38.1 percent to 34.6 for Los Angeles. The Lakers, though, led 62-60 at the break.
Overall, the Lakers connected on 48.3 percent to 37.8 percent for the Magic. Orlando committed 18 turnovers, resulting in 23 points, to 13 miscues (12 points) for the Lakers.
Los Angeles dictated on points in the paint, outscoring the Magic 60-42.
NOTES: Lakers coach Luke Walton praised the work ethic of rookie F Brandon Ingram. Ingram played one of his best games in Friday's 127-100 romp over the Miami Heat, scoring a career-high-tying 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting. "He works every day," Walton said, adding that he believes Ingram is figuring out how to attack opposing teams with his offense. ... The Lakers have scored 120 or more points five times this season. They reached the 120-point level just three times in the past two seasons combined. ... Magic coach Frank Vogel said his club must improve defensively if it expects to thrive. In their previous five games, four of those losses, the Magic have allowed an average of 110.2 points per game. ... The Lakers host the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. ... The Magic visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.