Balanced scoring leads to Lakers’ 101-84 win over Orlando

Lakers 101, Magic 84 (final)

The Lakers won a battle of last-place teams defeating the Orlando Magic on Friday night at Staples Center.

The Lakers had six players score in double figures, led by Jeremy Lin with 18 points and recently acquired Tarik Black with 14 points. Black also had nine rebounds.

Lin’s three-point basket with 24 seconds left in the game put an exclamation point on the victory.

With the win, the Lakers’ record improved to 12-25. The Magic lost their fifth consecutive game and fell to 13-26.

Victor Oladipo led the Magic in scoring with 17 points.

The Lakers next play the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on Sunday.

Lakers 73, Magic 67 (end of third quarter)

The Lakers maintained the lead, but their shooting accuracy dropped and Orlando refused to fade.

After shooting 42% from the floor in the first half, the Lakers were 28 for 70 (40%) by the end of the third quarter, while Orlando was shooting 42.4%.

But the Lakers far outrebounded the Magic, 43 to 28, with Ed Davis accounting for 10 of the Lakers’ rebounds.

Jordan Hill stepped up to co-lead the Lakers in scoring with 11 points. Ryan Kelly also had 11 points while Davis and Jeremy Lin each had 10 points.

Lakers 54, Magic 45 (halftime)

The Lakers maintained the lead at halftime with the help of three-point baskets late in the second quarter by Jeremy Lin and Ryan Kelly.

For Kelly, it was his third three-pointer of the game and he continued to lead the Lakers in scoring with 11 points. Lin had eight points in the first half.

The Lakers overall shot 21 for 50 (42%) from the floor in the half, while Orlando – which entered the game having lost their last four consecutive games – shot 15 for 50 (37.5%).

Victor Oladipo led the Magic’s scoring with 12 points and Luke Ridnour added 10 points.

Lakers 29, Magic 20 (end of first quarter)

With Kobe Bryant again out of the lineup for rest, the Lakers (11-25) are meeting their match, the lowly Orlando Magic (13-25), at Staples Center.

Forward Ryan Kelly, making only his second start of the season, sparked the Lakers early with a pair of three-point baskets and he led the team in scoring for the quarter with eight points.

Jordan Hill added six points and Ronnie Price, playing with a mask to protect his broken nose, had five points.

With Bryant absent, the Lakers started Kelly, Price, Hill, Wayne Ellington and Ed Davis.