Nuggets match mark for futility, roll over to Magic 98-84

DENVER - The Denver Nuggets lost their team-record 17th straight game Tuesday night as Horace Grant had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Orlando Magic in a 98-84 victory.

Denver dropped to 2-32 and has not won since Nov. 28.

Mark Price had 15 points and was 3-for-3 on 3-point shots as the Magic won for the fourth time in 11 games.

LaPhonso Ellis scored 16 and Dean Garret had a season-high 15 for Denver.

Orlando led 72-67 after three quarters. Gerald Wilkins, who had played only three minutes and scored just two points up until then, hit a 3-pointer to open the fourth period.

Wilkins wound up with nine points in the fourth quarter.

Garrett's fadeaway jumper with 2:58 left in the third period gave the Nuggets a 66-65 lead. Danny Schayes countered with three points, Wilkins hit his first jumper of the night and Price closed the quarter with a 3-pointer.

Orlando held a 50-43 lead at halftime, shooting 50 percent in each of the first two periods.

The Nuggets led 26-25 after the first quarter. Tony Battie shot 5-for-5 for Denver in the period.

Notes: Orlando placed Johnny Taylor on injured reserve to make room for Nick Anderson. ... Anthony Goldwire made his first start for Denver, marking the 12th different starting lineup combination for the Nuggets. ... Johnny Newman's consecutive game streak ended at 342. ... Denver has lost 22 times by 10 points or more.