PHOENIX _ The Orlando Magic continue to make 3-pointers at a shocking rate.
Fueled by 46.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc, the Magic opened their West Coast road trip Friday night by beating the Phoenix Suns, 128-112, at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
Aaron Gordon scored 11 of his game-high 22 points in the third quarter. Nikola Vucevic added 19 points. And Terrence Ross and Jonathon Simmons contributed 17 points apiece.
Coach Frank Vogel rested Elfrid Payton, Evan Fournier, Gordon and Vucevic the entire fourth quarter, giving them some rest before Saturday's game against the Denver Nuggets.
With the win, the Magic improved to 8-4, their best start through 12 games since they opened the 2011-12 season 9-3.
The Magic needed a victory Friday.
Games against tougher opponents _ the Nuggets, Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers _ will follow on the rest of this road trip, and the matchup against the reeling Suns (4-9) seemed like the most winnable of the four games.
But throughout Friday's first half, the Magic looked sluggish on defense.
They failed to sprint back in transition, and the Suns burned them for it.
No one took better advantage of Orlando's loping than rookie Josh Jackson, who scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half.
Orlando led 64-63 at halftime but took control in the third quarter, outscoring Phoenix 33-20 during the period.
Ross sank a 3-pointer from the left corner that put the Magic ahead 68-65, and the Magic never trailed again. After that play, Gordon scored 10 points in the period, helping to extend the lead.
