LOS ANGELES _ Orlando beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 108-104, on Sunday afternoon at Staples Center, handing the Lakers their second loss to the Magic within a span of eight days. The teams won't meet again this season.
"Disappointing loss," coach Luke Walton said. "We gotta get back to valuing the basketball. I thought we played well enough in the first half to have a good-sized lead ... we had 14 turnovers at the half."
The Lakers (11-8) finished the game with 18 turnovers, which led to 20 Orlando points.
The Lakers took a 12-point lead in the second quarter that Orlando chipped away at bit by bit. Close to halftime, the Magic took their first lead, which the Lakers took back with a three-pointer by LeBron James. The Lakers led the Magic, 52-51, at halftime.
In the third quarter, Orlando took control. The Magic outscored the Lakers 35-19 during the period.
With 2:24 left in the game, James tied it at 104, but the Lakers didn't score again.
James finished with 24 points and Kyle Kuzma added 21. Former USC standout Nikola Vucevic had a huge game for the Magic, with 31 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals.
