CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Bobcats finally have a happy locker room, the result of winning games and contending for a berth in the NBA playoffs. The Bobcats took a step closer to a post-season spot Friday, holding off a fourth-quarter rally to beat the Orlando Magic 91-80 for their third straight win. "It shows how hard theyve really worked, and how theyve fought to get back to this point," Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said. "Now wed like to get over .500, which would be a nice thing for our team." Al Jefferson had 29 points and 16 rebounds, and Kemba Walker added 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Bobcats, who at 38-38 are back at .500 for the first time since Nov. 23, when they were 7-7. Now Charlotte has a shot at its first winning record since Nov. 15, when the Bobcats were 5-4 despite not having Jefferson in the lineup because of an ankle injury. "Were heading in the right direction," Jefferson said. "Were a team thats playing well right now. Weve just got to continue to get better, and get ready for the playoffs. "Were right there, but weve got to take it one game at a time." Victor Oladipo scored 21 points and three others finished in double figures for the Magic, who despite having the leagues third-worst record (21-55) had beaten Charlotte twice in three previous meetings. But on Friday, Orlando faced the Bobcats without 7-foot centre Nikola Vucevic, who was a game-time scratch after he complained of soreness in his left Achilles tendon. "I went through my pregame routine, and it started to become more and more sore," Vucevic said. "I talked to the trainer, and we decided it was best for me not to go." Without Vucevic -- who had 24 points and 20 rebounds in the Magics 110-105 overtime victory over Charlotte on March 28 -- in the lineup, Jefferson broke loose for 21 points and 11 rebounds in the first half. Still, it took a big run in the second quarter for the Bobcats to take command, leading by as many as 19 points before taking a 53-36 halftime lead. Charlotte extended that lead to 21 points midway through the third quarter, going up 68-47 on Jeffersons jumper with 5:08 remaining, before Orlando began making a comeback. Despite shooting just 35.6 per cent from the field, the Magic cut the Bobcats lead to 72-60 by the end of the third quarter, and pulled within 76-69 on Oladipos 3-pointer with 8:58 remaining in the fourth. But Gary Neal (12 points) had a three-point play 26 seconds later to push Charlottes lead back into double figures. "It was really the effort up and down the floor," Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said. "Just being in the right place and being committed to it. Its just that simple. Overall, the energy in the second half was how we have to be." Orlando had that energy in the first half, twice taking brief leads in the opening minutes of the second quarter. The Magic went up 21-20 on ETwaun Moores jumper with 11:43 left, and were ahead 25-24 after Oladipos layup with 9:02 remaining. But Anthony Tolliver (13 points) hit his second 3-pointer of the quarter with 8:44 left to put the Bobcats ahead to stay and kick off a 27-6 run. Jeffersons dunk with 3:36 left gave Charlotte its first double-digit lead, at 41-30, and Walker hit a pair of free throws with 1:50 left to put the Bobcats ahead 51-30, their biggest lead of the half. The seventh-place Bobcats begin a three-game road trip Saturday at Cleveland, with stops in Washington on April 9 and Boston on April 11, as the near their first playoff appearance since 2010. "Its been a long time coming," Walker said. "Its very satisfying. Weve been through a lot of ups and downs this season, but weve stuck with things as a team. Its exciting, especially to get to this point." Notes: Bobcats F Josh McRoberts sat out his second straight game recuperating from a sprained left ankle. Clifford said that McRoberts would take the next two days off, and may resume practice Monday. ... Charlotte got a scare late in the first quarter when Michael Kidd-Gilchrist went down hard after having his layup blocked. Kidd-Gilchrist, who missed seven games with ankle problems earlier this season, was listed as "questionable" by team officials for the rest of the game with a bruised back, but he returned to play the second half. ... The Bobcats have created a website -- www.bigalspaint.com -- to promote Jefferson as an All-NBA candidate. The website went public Thursday, and features quotes from opposing players and coaches, stats and stories by local and national media. Jonathon Simmons Jersey . -- Canadian Erik Bedard pitched into the fifth inning in his bid to win a spot in Tampa Bays rotation, helping the Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Saturday. Vince Carter Jersey . Chan captured two silver medals at last months Sochi Winter Games — mens singles and the inaugural team event. But he doesnt have the urge to resume training to defend his world title when the event is held in Saitama, Japan, later this month. http://www.magicauthentic.com/kids-timofey-mozgov-magic-jersey/ . The teams were scoreless for most of the first two periods before Canada scored three times in a span of less than four minutes. Sarah Potomak opened the scoring on the power play. Jerian Grant Jersey .twitter.com/TeZD3KOvlA — Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) September 24, 2014 Sorry for the delay, we just got back from lunch at Papa Vons #NBAFastFood pic. Orlando Magic Jerseys . -- D.A. Points was disqualified Friday from the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for using a training device while waiting to play the 18th hole at Pebble Beach.SAN DIEGO -- The way the San Diego Padres have been struggling offensively, it seemed fitting the ball didnt leave the infield on the play that carried them to victory against the lowly Arizona Diamondbacks. Cameron Maybin reached base after an overturned umpires call, then scored on Yonder Alonsos slow grounder with one out in the ninth inning to give the Padres a 4-3 win Sunday that stopped a four-game losing streak. It was a perfect combination for the Padres -- the speedy Maybin at third base, left-hander Oliver Perez on the mound, one out and the infield in, a ball that went just the right distance and another winning challenge by manager Bud Black. Maybin broke for home as Alonso hit a dribbler down the first-base line. Paul Goldschmidt barehanded it and threw home, but Maybin had already slid across with the winning run. "With a lefty pitcher there, Im able to get a little bit bigger lead than usual," said Maybin, who was reinstated from the disabled list a week earlier. "And it was just a situation, man, where if it was a line drive I probably was going to get doubled up. I was going on the swing even more so than contact, so it worked out. It was probably the shortest RBI he ever had." Said Alonso: "It could have gone 10 feet, and Cam would have scored. I know with Cam running, anythings possible in this game. My approach the whole time was just get it done. Whatever you do, dont strike out. Put the ball in play." Even with all the factors turning out right, Black said it was "a pretty standard procedure in that situation, game-winning run. Worse-case scenario is out at home, then you still have first and third with two outs. The proper grounder was hit, where it was not smoked, Cam had a good secondary lead, reacted to the swing in the hitting area as instructed, and beat the play." Maybin started the winning rally with a chopper to second off Perez (0-1). He initially was called out, but Black challenged and the call was changed to safe, giving Maybin an infield single and making Black 2 for 2 in challenges Sunday and 4 for 4 this season. Rene Rivera, who earlier hit a two-run double, doubled over right fielder Gerardo Parra to move Maybin to third. "I wasnt a big fan at first," Maybin said of the new replay system. "But it worked out." Said Black: "Those are close plays. In 2014, thats the beauty of replay, the technology." The Padres scored their most runs in five games.dddddddddddd "It was huge, man," Maybin said. "You never want to get swept in a series. Weve been playing some really tough, close games. We continue to compete, continue to play hard. Its good after making so many errors. We were very fortunate to get the win today." San Diego committed three errors. Huston Street (1-0) pitched the ninth for the win. Arizona entered the series with the worst record in the majors at 9-22 and the worst ERA in the majors at 5.20. After being held to five runs in their previous four games, the Padres scored first for the first time in five games. Chris Denorfias two-out single in the third brought in rookie Jace Peterson, who was hit on the hand with a pitch. That snapped a streak of 20 scoreless innings by Diamondbacks pitchers. Arizona went ahead 3-1 in the fourth. Goldschmidt hit a leadoff homer off Tyson Ross into the sandy play area beyond the fence in right-centre, his fifth. With two outs, shortstop Everth Cabrera misplayed a grounder by Cody Ross for an error. Rookie Ender Inciarte singled to left and Tuffy Gosewich brought them both in with a single to centre. San Diego tied it in their half of the inning when Rivera hit a two-out, two-run double into the left-field corner off lefty Wade Miley. "They gave me three runs, then I give them right back," Miley said. "We scored runs, then I give them more. Thats huge. To get two outs, and then I let them back in." Ross allowed three runs, one earned, on seven hits in seven innings, struck out five and walked one. Miley gave up three runs and six hits in seven innings, struck out four and walked one. Black challenged a ruling that Chris Owings was safe on a grounder with two outs in the eighth. After review, Owings was called out. NOTES: Padres 3B Chase Headley will start a rehab assignment at Class A Lake Elsinore on Monday. Hes on the disabled list with a strained right calf. ... The Padres continue a 10-game homestand with a three-game series against Kansas City starting Monday night. The scheduled starters are Royals RHP Yordano Ventura (2-1, 1.50 ERA) against Padres lefty Eric Stults (1-3, 5.34). ... The Diamondbacks continue their road trip by opening a three-game set at Milwaukee. Mike Bolsinger (1-1, 5.79) is scheduled to start for the Diamondbacks against Matt Garza (1-3, 5.00). 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