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Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard reacts - Source: Reuters
The Orlando Magic stormed to a season-high seventh consecutive win with a 111-82 rout of the Chicago Bulls on Friday.
Vince Carter scored a team-high 23 points in just 26 minutes as the Magic outscored their opponents 65-33 during the first half to quickly put the contest out of reach.
Orlando (46-20) posted five players in double-figures for scoring to maintain their Southeast Division lead at four games over the Atlanta Hawks.
It was a sixth straight loss for the Bulls (31-33), whose night started badly when point guard Derrick Rose hurt his wrist in the first quarter after a collision with Dwight Howard and did not return.
Rose's injury was the latest for Chicago, who were without leading defender Joakim Noah, sidelined with a foot ailment, and Luol Deng, who has a calf strain.
"They started the game a little undermanned, and then obviously when Rose went down, they were very undermanned," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters.
James Johnson scored a team-high 13 for the Bulls, who shot just 39 percent as they fell to their longest losing streak since 2006.
Chicago (31-33) are currently outside of the playoff picture in ninth place in the Eastern Conference.
Orlando, however, are on the rise and hitting form as the postseason approaches. Matt Barnes put in 14 points and Brandon Bass notched 13 off the bench during a complete team effort.
"Right now we're trying to play the best basketball we can, hopefully roll it into the playoffs," Carter said.
"We're hitting the floor running, playing at a high level, and each and every night the opponent doesn't matter, it's more about what we need to do to get better."
