ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic could’ve had a smoother finish, though they couldn’t complain about their performance the rest of the night.
Evan Fournier scored 20 points and the Magic survived a collapse from the free throw line in the final minute to squeeze out a 98-97 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.
“The end wasn’t great, but we can clean that up,” Magic coach Steve Clifford said. “That’s a good win against a good team.”
Aaron Gordon had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and 12 rebounds for Orlando, which won its second straight.
“It felt like Magic basketball tonight as far as the defense and preparation,” Fournier said. “They are one of the top teams in the East and we were ready for a fight. We need to be like that every night.”
Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris each had 24 points and 11 rebounds for the 76ers, who had their three-game winning streak snapped. Embiid missed a desperation 30-footer at the buzzer that could have won it.
Orlando led 93-83 after Gordon’s dunk with 1:49 left in the game, but it was far from over. The Magic were 5 of 11 from the free throw line in the final 1:30. That included four misses in the final 30 seconds.
Philadelphia’s last four field goals were 3-pointers that gave the visitor’s a chance at winning. Embiid hit the last of them with 5.1 seconds to play that cut the Sixers’ deficit to 98-97.
Ben Simmons then stole the inbounds pass at the Magic end of the court and gave it to Embiid, who launched his desperation shot as the buzzer sounded. It was short and left and Orlando survived.
“If I’m open I’m going to shoot it,” Embiid said of his late-game offensive burst. “That’s the mentality you have to have. I didn’t make the last one so it doesn’t matter.”
HEAT 113, PACERS 112
MIAMI — Goran Dragic scored in the lane with 6.8 seconds remaining to cap a wild finish and Miami beat Indiana to improve to an NBA-best 14-1 at home.
Dragic’s shot was the third by Miami on the go-ahead possession, after Jimmy Butler and Kendrick Nunn both missed but the Heat were able to grab offensive rebounds. Aaron Holiday had a chance to win it for Indiana, but his 10-footer with about a second left bounced away.
Butler scored 20 points for Miami. Bam Adebayo had 18 points and 15 rebounds, including the offensive rebound that set up Dragic’s shot. Dragic had 14 points.
Aaron Holiday scored 17 points for Indiana.
BUCKS 112, HAWKS 86
ATLANTA — Khris Middleton scored 23 points, Ersan Ilyasova had season highs of 18 points and 17 rebounds and NBA-leading Milwaukee overcame Giannis Antetokunmpo’s absence to beat Atlanta.
Antetokunmpo, the league MVP last season and second-leading scorer this season, sat out because of back soreness. He watched from the bench as his teammates helped Milwaukee improve to 28-5.
The Hawks lost their ninth straight to drop to a league-worst 6-26. They lost guard Trae Young, the NBA’s fourth-leading scorer, to a right ankle sprain late in the second quarter.
CELTICS 129, CAVALIERS 117
BOSTON — Jaylen Brown matched his career high with 34 points and Boston beat Cleveland for its fifth straight victory.
Jayson Tatum had 24 of his 30 points in the first half, Enes Kanter added 14 points, and Kemba Walker had 13 to help Boston improve to 13-1 at home.
Kevin Love matched his season high with 30 points and had seven rebounds for Cleveland.
THUNDER 104, HORNETS 102, OT
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points, Dennis Schroder added 24 and Oklahoma City beat Charlotte in overtime for its fifth victory in six games.
Chris Paul had 10 of his 16 points for the Thunder in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Terry Rozier scored 26 points for Charlotte.
WARRIORS 106, SUNS 95
SAN FRANCISCO — D’Angelo Russell had 31 points and six assists, and Golden State rallied from 10 down in the fourth quarter to beat Phoenix for its fourth straight victory.
Damion Lee added 16 points, Alec Burks scored nine of his 13 in the fourth quarter, and Draymond Green had 11 points and seven rebounds.
Devin Booker scored 34 points for Phoenix. The Suns have lost eight straight.
