the Republican National Convention

ORLANDO, Fla. -- After giving up a 12-point halftime lead, the Orlando Magic recovered with enough baskets and key stops down the stretch to grind out a big win.Serge Ibaka scored 16 points and Nikola Vucevic broke out of his shooting slump with 10 points and 14 rebounds to help lift the Magic to an 89-82 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.After Terrence Jones basket pulled New Orleans to 84-82, Vucevic made back-to-back shots in the waning moments for the win.We are going to keep fighting, keep trying to find a way, said Vucevic, who finished 10 points and 14 rebounds. Were not playing really good basketball right now, its not easy to get stuff going and get into the flow but we just have to find ways to get wins until we figure that out.At times in the second half it appeared the Magic were headed to a second straight defeat as their offense tanked and they couldnt get stops against Pelicans team that found out late that Anthony Davis wouldnt be available because of a thigh injury.Jones, who replaced Davis in the starting lineup, scored a game-high 26 points for the Pelicans.Jones had 12 points in the third quarter to help the Pelicans comeback from a 12-point first-half deficit to pull within one point late in the period. The Magic held on to a 65-63 lead at the end of the third.New Orleans completed its comeback with 9:23 in the game when Buddy Hield knocked down a baseline jumper to put his team up briefly 70-69. But Augustin and Rudez countered with a combined 10 points during a stretch to put the Magic back ahead, 79-73.The Magic shot just 39 percent from the field with all of the starters struggling to hit shots consistently. But without Davis in the lineup, the Pelicans offense was stagnant at times, too, and finished shooting 37 percent. Serge Ibaka and Evan Fournier led the way with 16 points each.We talked the whole night that nothing is easy in the NBA, Magic coach Frank Vogel said. Its just one of those things where one guy goes down and everybody else has an opportunity. You are going to work and earn everything.After a sluggish start, the Magic got going in the second quarter. They came up with stops and Ibaka and Fournier both hit big shots to build Orlandos lead to 15 before heading into halftime with a 52-40 advantage.Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry was pleased to see his team fight the way it did in Davis absence but he still felt they let a winnable game slip away.I thought our defense was fantastic, played the whole game, said Gentry, whose team slipped to 2-10. You just have to find a way offensively to get a few baskets.TIP-INSPelicans: Langston Galloway, a free agent signee last summer, followed up his breakout game against Boston on Monday with 15 points off the bench against the Magic. He scored 21 points against the Celtics. ... The Pelicans came in having lost two of three.Magic: Vucevic came in shooting 5 for 32 from field in the Magics last three games and had not attempted a free throw in any of the three games. ... Jeff Green has struggled since being inserted into the starting lineup for Aaron Gordon. Green went 0 for 9 from the field for zero points on Wednesday night.ANOTHER JONES DOUBLE-DOUBLE (ALMOST)After not getting 10 rebounds in any of his 50 games with Houston last season, Jones came one rebound short of his second straight double-double. Jones had 15 and 10 off the bench Monday in a win over Boston.COLD STARTSThe Magic came into the game as the NBAs lowest-scoring (92.6) and worst-shooting (.410) team, and missed their first five shots while the Pelicans were missing their first eight. Orlando shot .386 for the game to New Orleans .370.UP NEXTPelicans: Host Portland on Friday night.Magic: Host Dallas on Saturday night. The Magic have lost nine of the last 10 at home to the Mavericks. Erik Gustafsson Jersey . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. ED Belfour Jersey . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. http://www.cheapblackhawkschinajerseys.com/jonathan-toews-jersey/ . Marincin has played in two NHL games so far this season with two penalty minutes. The 21-year-old has three goals, four assists and a plus-5 rating in 24 games with the American Hockey Leagues Oklahoma City Barons this season. Stan Mikita Jersey . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. Michal Rozsival Jersey . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. CLEVELAND -- The colossal LeBron James banner soaring over downtown is getting a small -- but significant -- upgrade.The iconic 10-stories-tall mural was removed Monday and will be replaced with a new one that includes a gold patch of the Larry OBrien Trophy on the back of James uniform to represent the Cavaliers winning the NBA title last season, ending Clevelands 52-year championship drought.The new banner is expected to be installed by Friday. The Cavs open their season against the New York Knicks on Oct. 25, when the players will receive their championship rings and a title banner will be unveiled in the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena.James likeness has towered over the city, and the black-and-white image of the superstar, his muscular arms outstretched, has become a tourist stop and symbol of civic pride.Sherwin-WWilliams considered temporarily removing the giant James banner this summer during the Republican National Convention but changed its mind after a public backlash.ddddddddddddThe company ended up making a $150,000 donation to the LeBron James Family Foundation.An original banner of James was taken down after he signed with the Miami Heat in 2010. The new one was installed in October 2014, a few months after the three-time champion re-signed with Cleveland.The golden upgrade comes as the Indians, who play at Progressive Field next door to the Cavs arena, are leading the AL Championship Series 2-0 over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Indians are trying to end a World Series drought dating to 1948. ' ' '