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© St. Petersburg Times, published March 3, 2003
CLEVELAND -- As Tracy McGrady stepped to the free-throw line late in the third quarter, a scoreboard at Gund Arena flashed an advertisement for the Cleveland Clinic.
How fitting. Because for 12 minutes, that's exactly what the Orlando Magic put on.
"The third quarter was amazing," Magic coach Doc Rivers said.
McGrady scored 28 and rookie Gordan Giricek made two 3-pointers when Orlando outscored Cleveland 39-12 in the third, leading the Magic to a 102-76 win.
McGrady didn't have to play in the fourth quarter as the Magic improved to 4-1 since acquiring Giricek and fellow rookie Drew Gooden in a Feb. 19 trade with Memphis.
Giricek had 16 points and Gooden had 13 points and 14 rebounds. Orlando led 54-50 after Giricek's 3-pointer, his first of two straight, with 10:27 left in the third.
Giricek's jumper ignited a 28-3 run by the Magic, which outscored Cleveland 34-7 over the final 9:43 of the quarter to turn a tight game into another blowout loss for the Cavs, who dropped to an NBA-worst 11-48.
"Can we not talk about the third quarter?" Cavs interim coach Keith Smart said. "We came out and didn't make shots and dropped our heads."
McGrady said the Cavs did more than that.
"I know they quit," he said. "Guys didn't want to play. Ricky Davis, he wasn't aggressive. He was too passive. Guys were passing up open jumpers."
McGrady and Giricek each scored 12 in the third as the Magic had runs of 9-0 and 16-0 and went 16-for-26 from the floor. Cleveland helped by making nine turnovers.
McGrady, who has scored at least 20 in 30 straight games, said the additions of Giricek and Gooden has taken pressure off him to carry the Magic.
"Drew gives us that low-post presence we were lacking," McGrady said. "He can rebound and defend. Gordan gives us a lot of everything. Those guys are helping us in a lot of ways and it's showing on the court."
Davis and rookie Dajuan Wagner had 14 points each as Cleveland lost for the eighth time in nine games.
JAZZ 91, NETS 90: Andrei Kirilenko tipped in John Stockton's airball just before the final buzzer as Utah snapped a three-game losing streak and won for the eighth straight time on New Jersey's home court. The Nets haven't beaten the Jazz at the Meadowlands since 1994.
With Utah trailing 90-89 after Kenyon Martin's shot from the lane with 14.1 seconds left, Stockton dribbled to the right baseline for a contested 14-footer over Martin. The shot was short, but Kirilenko directed it in.
RAPTORS 104, CELTICS 92: Vince Carter had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Antonio Davis scored 19 to lead five players in double figures for host Toronto.
76ERS 100, NUGGETS 94: Eric Snow scored 25 to lead five players in double figures as visiting Philadelphia won its ninth straight game.
BLAZERS 103, PISTONS 86: Bonzi Wells scored a career-high 37 as host Portland handed Detroit its seventh straight loss. Wells scored 18 in the third quarter as the Blazers won their fourth straight.
SPURS 97, ROCKETS 88: Emanuel Ginobili scored a career-high 20 and led five San Antonio players in double figures as the visiting Spurs won for the 13th time in 14 games.
WOLVES 99, KNICKS 90: Kevin Garnett had 22 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists as Minnesota won its seventh straight overall and 17th straight at home.
HEAT 93, WIZARDS 83: Host Miami made nine straight shots in the second half and won even though leading scorer Eddie Jones played 21 minutes because of foul trouble.
BUCKS 120, HAWKS 93: Sam Cassell and Gary Payton combined for 52 points and 17 assists as host Milwaukee snapped a three-game losing streak.