ORLANDO - Without Tracy McGrady, the Magic was no match for the Clippers.
Marko Jaric scored 23 and Quentin Richardson and Elton Brand added 21 apiece to lead Los Angeles to a 115-106 victory over Orlando on Saturday night.
McGrady, second in the league in scoring, missed the game to attend his aunt's funeral. He is expected back in time for Tuesday's game at Minnesota.
"There goes 27 points a game from our lineup, so for sure it made a difference," said Gordon Giricek, who started in McGrady's place. "We knew we had to do something to make up for that and I think everyone gave a good effort, we just didn't stop their shooting. They were hitting everything."
Giricek led Orlando with 20 points. Juwan Howard added 19 points and five rebounds, and Keith Bogans had 17 points and eight rebounds.
Orlando got within 70-65 in the third quarter on Giricek's short jumper, but Los Angeles went on a 9-0 run that pushed the lead back to 79-65.
The Magic cut the deficit to six twice early in the fourth quarter, but never got closer. The Clippers turned to backup center Predrag Drobnjak, who scored all 13 of his points in the fourth to hold off any attempts at a comeback.
NETS 88, ROCKETS 77: Kenyon Martin had 21 of his 27 points in the second half and Richard Jefferson had seven of his 17 in the final five minutes to help visiting New Jersey overcome a slow start and make Lawrence Frank 3-0 as interim coach. Frank replaced Byron Scott on Monday. Houston's biggest lead of the first half was 38-26 in the second quarter on a 3-point basket by Cuttino Mobley.
NUGGETS 107, MAVERICKS 102: Carmelo Anthony, who scored 26, hit the go-ahead 22-footer with 2:22 left, then the rookie added four straight free throws in the closing seconds to help visiting Denver finish one of its biggest comebacks.
After trailing 53-37 at halftime, Denver scored 70 for its fourth-biggest comeback ever. Andre Miller made all eight of his shots in the third, the last a 14-footer with seven seconds left to get the Nuggets within 79-71.
The Nuggets sealed the game with 10 free throws in the final 29 seconds, the first after Mavs coach Don Nelson was called for a technical.
HAWKS 93, BUCKS 83: Atlanta led 72-53 late in the third quarter, saw visiting Milwaukee go on a 15-0 run over a 5:50 span, then held on. Boris Diaw's basket broke the dry spell and the Bucks never got closer than four the rest of the way.
PACERS 99, CELTICS 98: Ron Artest had 23 points, five steals and a late stop to lift host Indiana. Paul Pierce hit a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left to pull Boston within a point after it trailed by as many as 13. After an Indiana turnover the Celtics tried to set up a play for Pierce but Artest's defense forced Walter McCarty into a bad pass and prevented Pierce from getting in position. Also, Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal left in the second quarter with a neck strain.
PISTONS 80, GRIZZLIES 78: Host Detroit squandered an 11-point lead in the final three minutes, but Chauncey Billups hit two free throws with 0.4 seconds left. Billups had a baseline jumper blocked by Pau Gasol, but Earl Watson was whistled for hitting Billups on the wrist. Gasol scored seven in an 11-0 run, finishing it with a three-point play that tied it with 53 seconds to go.
HEAT 94, HORNETS 70: Eddie Jones scored 24 to lead visiting Miami, which finished with a 22-4 run and held New Orleans to its lowest point total of the season. Hornets starters P.J. Brown (0-for-5), Jamaal Magloire (0-for-4) and Darrell Armstrong (2-of-12) were a combined 2-for-21 from the field. Point guard Baron Davis (23.3 points a game) sat out because he aggravated an ankle injury Friday in Philadelphia.
KNICKS 110, SUNS 105: Stephon Marbury had 33 of his 35 points in the first three quarters against his former team, leading host New York. Joe Johnson scored a career-high 31 but missed the second of two free throws with 21.7 seconds left to leave Phoenix trailing 106-103. Phoenix made 24-of-25 from the line before the miss. Also, Knicks forward Michael Sweetney was activated.
SPURS 85, JAZZ 81: Tim Duncan had 33 points and 14 rebounds to lead host San Antonio to its 15th consecutive win over Utah. Carlos Arroyo's layup with four seconds left pulled the Jazz within 83-81, but Manu Ginobili hit two free throws to seal it.
BULLS: Tyson Chandler was activated and Chris Jefferies (sprained right ankle) was placed on the injured list.
GRIFFIN IN REHAB: Nets forward Eddie Griffin plans to enter the Betty Ford Center for six weeks of alcohol abuse treatment, his lawyer told the New York Times. "Eddie feels he needs further help with his drinking problem," Rusty Hardin said. The Nets signed him after Houston released him.
