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. JJ Redick Jersey . The Maple Leafs will play on the road for the first time this season after dropping home contests to Montreal and Pittsburgh to begin the campaign. After losing a one-goal decision to the Canadiens on Wednesday, they were bested 5-2 on Saturday by the Penguins. Jrue Holiday Jersey . Locke overcame a shaky start to pitch seven innings and Josh Harrison had three hits to extend his hot streak as the Pirates beat the Miami Marlins 7-3 on Wednesday night. https://www.cheappelicans.com/855u-nicol...y-pelicans.html. A steady downpour and low temperatures were predicted for much of the night. No makeup date was immediately announced, although it was determined that the game will not be part of a doubleheader on Wednesday. Lonzo Ball Jersey . - Zac Leslie scored two goals and assisted on two more, and Justin Nichols made 34 saves as the Guelph Storm blanked the Kitchener Rangers 6-0 in Ontario Hockey League action on Sunday. Omer Asik Jersey . And thats about it. After the Salukis 73-65 loss at Murray State on Tuesday night, Hinson called his players "uncoachable," "a bunch of mamas boys" and compared the disciplining of his young team to housebreaking a puppy.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Rex Ryan is hoping his New York Jets dont strike out.Its only Week 4, but the Jets are off to a shaky start with a 1-2 record. And with two straight losses, Ryan isnt downplaying his teams game Sunday against the Detroit Lions.Staying in the baseball-type deal, in the NFL, its the equivalent of a 10-game losing streak when you lose one game, Ryan said. So, were on a 20-game losing streak. If that talks about sense of urgency, then yeah, theres a huge sense of urgency.Because by Ryans math, another defeat would equal a 30-game skid. In other words, the Jets are in a tough spot against the Lions (2-1).Must-win in September? Not quite, but being 1-3 with San Diego, Denver and New England on deck would be ominous.In Major League Baseball, they play 162 (games), Ryan said. Thats why I think football is one of the greatest things and people love it because its that important. Yeah, look, we dont want to dig ourselves in any further hole than were in, so weve got to find a way and, albeit, against a good opponent.The Lions, meanwhile, are looking for their second straight 3-1 start. Theyre coming off a 19-7 victory over NFC North rival Green Bay and opened some eyes that maybe Detroit is a legitimate contender in the division.Having the top-ranked defence and a high-powered offence, despite its early struggles, that includes quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson are two huge reasons.I can tell you its a resilient group, said coach Jim Caldwell, in his first season with the Lions.Its a tough group and a group that youre going to see thats going to be right in there fighting each and every week. It may not be pretty. Were not worried about pretty, were worried about the results. I think our guys are buying into that.Here are some things to watch for when the Lions take on the Jets at MetLife Stadium:GETTING DEFENSIVE: Both offences might have some problems in this one, particularly running the ball.While the Lions have the top defence, based on overall yardage allowed, the Jets are No. 2 in the league. New York is also No. 1 in rushing defence, allowing just 35 yards per game on an average of 14 carries. That spells possible trouble for Reggie Bush and Joique Bell.But guess who has the No. 2 defence against the run? Yep, the Lions. And theyll face an offence that ranks second in rushing, led by the trio of Chris Ivory, Chris Johnson and Bilal Powell.ddddddddddddSMITH ON HOT SEAT?: Ryan publicly backed his starting quarterback a€” twice a€” this week, and Geno Smith insisted he feels no pressure as far as his job security.But Smith has five turnovers in three games and is coming off a poor performance against the Bears last Monday night in which he threw two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown on his first pass of the game. That has some anxious fans already calling for the Jets to put backup Michael Vick in and see if he can provide a spark.What people have got to understand, Vick said, is youve got to allow a young guy to work through the tough times.SPUTTERING LIONS: Detroit is off to a bit of a sluggish start on offence, scoring just 17 total points on that side of the ball in the past two games.While the Lions are 11th in overall offence and second in third-down conversions, they also had six turnovers against the Packers and Carolina Panthers. The running game is also 25th in the league.Its just little plays here and there, Stafford said. Any time you turn the ball over three times (a game), youre not going to score a whole lot of points.STOPPING MEGATRON: Johnson is still one of the most dominant receivers in the league, and he already has 19 catches for 329 yards and two touchdowns.Next up: a matchup against a secondary still trying to steady itself. The Jets have started converted safety Antonio Allen and backup Darrin Walls at cornerback, and theyve faired OK. Oh, and Johnson needs one game of 200 or more yards receiving to break a tie with Hall of Famer Lance Alworth for the most in NFL history with six.Johnson might be licking his chops this weekend since hes going up against a defence that allowed the Packers Jordy Nelson 209 yards receiving in Week 2.KICKIN IT: The Lions quickly pulled the plug on rookie kicker Nate Freese, who missed a 41-yard field goal last Sunday and was 3 for 7 this season.They signed former Eagles kicker Alex Henery to replace him, and with both defences being stout, field goals could be a factor. Henery set an Eagles accuracy record on field-goal attempts in 2011, but he had a key miss in last years 26-24 playoff loss to New Orleans. He also missed two this preseason before being cut.___AP Sports Writer Noah Trister and Freelance Writer John Kreger in Allen Park, Michigan, contributed.___AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '