Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A rare offensive outburst by the Orlando Magic overcame the biggest night of John Wall's career.
Elfrid Payton scored 22 of his career-high 25 points in the first half and the Magic beat the Washington Wizards 124-116 on Tuesday despite Wall's 52-point performance.
The Magic were averaging 93.2 points and scored over 100 points in just five of their first 21 games but shot 52 percent en route to a third straight victory.
"We're growing on that end of the floor," Magic coach Frank Vogel said. "We got several great contributions, starting with Elfrid Payton coming off the bench having the game of his life. He was terrific tonight."
Wall had the highest-scoring game of his career and kept Washington in it with 33 points in the second half as the Wizards cut the lead below 10 in the fourth quarter. The guard made 18 of 31 from the field and added eight assists.
"I mean, (in the) third quarter I started to make shots, and I was trying to be more aggressive at times," Wall said. "I was able to be aggressive and get into the paint and make some easy shots."
Payton played like Wall in the first half as he went 8 for 8 from the field and 3 for 3 from the line, nearly matching his previous season best of 23 points in the first two quarters alone. Payton finished 9 for 12 and handed out nine assists.
"They were playing off a little bit, so they gave me a couple of open looks," Payton said. "They just looked like they were staying home so just trying to be a little bit more aggressive."
Orlando's 124 points were a season high.
Jeff Green scored 13 of his 20 in the first half for Orlando. Green went to Georgetown and played his college basketball at the Verizon Center, and he made a key 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter that stopped a Washington rally.
"(The offense) was clicking," Green said. "We were making shots, making the extra pass, trusting each other, and we got it done."
The Magic scored the game's first seven points and the lead went back and forth until they took command in the second quarter.
Orlando (10-12) slowly pulled away, making 13 of its first 18 shots in the second quarter to take a 62-48 lead with just under 3 minutes left. The Magic scored 40 points in the period en route to a 65-52 halftime edge.
Seven Orlando players scored in double figures. Bismack Biyombo contributed a season-high 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
Only three Wizards scored in double figures.
TIP-INS
Magic: The Magic are 5-1 when scoring 100 points. ... Vogel called off practice Monday, and his team took a trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture.
Wizards: Ian Mahinmi remains out with a sore knee — the non-surgically repaired one is the problem now. Coach Scott Brooks said the center had an MRI last week. ... Brooks also said Sheldon McClellan has been assigned to Delaware of the D-League and will play three or four games there.
A LITTLE HELP FROM THEIR FRIENDS
The Orlando bench gave the starters a lift by scoring 73 points. Payton and Green led the way while Jodie Meeks added 18, and Nikola Vucevic had 10. The four combined to make 24 of 37 shots (67 percent) from the field.
NO DEFENSE
The 124 points were the most Washington has allowed in a home game this season, and the second-highest amount the Wizards have allowed in any game.
UP NEXT
Magic: On Wednesday, the Magic will host the Celtics. Boston's been getting some great shooting in recent games from Jonas Jerebko.
Wizards: The Nuggets come to town on Thursday for their first meeting of the season. Denver won both meetings last year, and it's a bit of a homecoming for forward Will Barton, who went to high school in nearby Baltimore.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
