AP PhotoOrlando, Fla. ? Drew Gooden broke out of a slump just in time to save the Orlando Magic.
Gooden scored a career-high 32 points — six more than he had in his previous five games — and Tracy McGrady had 42 in leading the Magic to a 124-118 overtime win Friday night over Boston.
This has been an erratic season for Kansas University product Gooden. He lost his starting slot early and has been more down than up lately, shooting 34 percent without scoring in double figures since Jan. 6.
But Gooden’s play was consistent against the Celtics. He had 18 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, making all five of his shots — including his second and third three-pointers of the season.
“I was due,” said Gooden, who shot 12-for-18. “I had a little dry spell for about five games, and I felt like I let my team down during that stretch. Tonight, I told the team that I was going to go out and give it all I had.”
Boston had a brief 115-114 lead but Gooden nailed a 19-foot jumper with 3:27 remaining, sparking an 8-0 run that helped Orlando improve to 3-0 in overtime games.
“When he plays like this, he makes us a better basketball team,” Orlando coach Johnny Davis said.
Boston tied it at 111 with 2.3 seconds left in regulation on Walter McCarty’s three-pointer.
Denver — Michael Finley scored five points in the final 1:26, and Dallas held on to defeat Denver. Dirk Nowitzki had 22 points for Dallas, which led by eight points with 4:56 remaining but saw the margin reduced to one. Andre Miller scored 28, including eight straight Denver points to cut the lead to 89-88.
New York — Lenny Wilkens turned Stephon Marbury loose and enjoyed an easy victory in his first game as coach of the Knicks. Marbury had 17 assists before going to the bench for good with nine minutes remaining in a win over Seattle. Keith Van Horn scored 30 points in just 28 minutes and Allan Houston added 18.
Sacramento, Calif. — Peja Stojakovic scored 23 points and Sacramento routed injury-depleted Los Angeles. Mike Bibby had 21 points for the Kings, who won their fourth straight and improved the NBA’s best record to 28-9. Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, Horace Grant and Rick Fox all missed the game.
Indianapolis — Reggie Miller scored 28 points, including seven three-pointers, to lead Indiana over San Antonio. Jermaine O’Neal overcame foul trouble and scored 12 of his 20 points in the final quarter.
Phoenix — Joe Johnson scored a season-high 26 points on 12-for-16 shooting — most of them from the outside — and Phoenix beat Golden State.
Auburn Hills, Mich. — Detroit won its 11th straight game, routing Washington behind Richard Hamilton’s 17 points. Chauncey Billups added 12 points and 10 assists for the Pistons.
Los Angeles — Eddie Jones capped a 21-point effort with a clutch three-pointer in the final minute and Miami held off Los Angeles.
