ORLANDO, Fla. _ Before facing the Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier said his team hadn't generated enough momentum after the All-Star break despite winning back-to-back games.
Maybe after Friday's game, Fournier and the Magic will believe they have the positive momentum they've been chasing all season.
Led by Terrence Ross' hot shooting in the fourth quarter, Orlando defeated Minnesota, 136-125, at Amway Center.
The Magic (27-32) have won three consecutive games and five of their past six contests.
Ross finished the contest with a season-high 33 points and exploded in the fourth quarter. The reserve guard scored the Magic's first 12 points in the quarter and had 19 points in the frame. After making a 3-pointer with 4:18 left to play, Ross held his pose for a few seconds, sensing the game was in hand.
Aaron Gordon continued to his strong play, notching his first career triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists. Nikola Vucevic added 27. Orlando also tied a season-high with 69 points in the first half and had a season-high in assists with 36.
Minnesota (17-41) was led by guard D'Angelo Russell, who tallied a team-high 28 points.
The Timberwolves were without star center Karl-Anthony Towns, who is nursing a fractured left wrist. But Russell showed why he is one of the league's most dynamic young point guards.
The one-time All-Star picked on Markelle Fultz on the defensive end numerous times and then had an impressive sequence midway through the third quarter.
Russell was driving toward the hoop and it looked like he was about to lose his dribble twice. He gathered the ball, tip-toed the sideline and then drained a contested 3-pointed over Fultz. After making the basket, Russell turned toward a few Magic fans sitting on the sideline and taunted them.
On the Timberwolves' next offensive possession, Russell hit a jumper over Fultz, giving Minnesota an 89-83 lead.
The Magic, though, ended the third quarter on a 13-2 spurt with Russell on the bench. The run was sparked by Mo Bamba, who created a second-chance scoring opportunity by tapping out a pass and then getting a dunk to give Orlando a 103-95 lead.
Then Ross took over.
The Magic travel to San Antonio to face the Spurs on Saturday at 8:30 p.m., completing the team's 10th back-to-back on the schedule. Orlando has struggled during the second game of back-to-backs, compiling a 1-8 record and are 0-8 this season on a Saturday.
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