Orlando Magic beat Chicago Bulls in NBA game

Orlando : The Orlando Magic stormed to a season-high seventh consecutive win with a 111-82 rout of the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

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.

Undermanned

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 per cent 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 post-season 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 play-offs," 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."