There's no such thing as a free lunch at Orlando Magic home games anymore.

Until this season, the Magic were among several NBA teams to take part in the time-honored -- if not always honorable -- tradition of scoring a minimum number of points and rewarding ticket holders with coupons for free fast-food.

But there was no screaming to be heard at the TD Waterhouse Centre last week during the fourth quarters of the Magic's routs of Memphis and Chicago. A team spokesman said McDonald's, which used to sponsor a promotion for free Big Macs whenever the Magic scored at least 110 points, has yet to renew its contract.

In other cities, giveaways of free chalupas at games have bordered on comical. Magic coach Doc Rivers admitted he has gotten a laugh out of home teams scrambling to score an otherwise meaningless basket during the final minute, although that tactic in Dallas last season prompted a fight between members of the Mavericks and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"There's nothing wrong with it," Rivers said. "But I just don't like it."

"I've been in situations where I'm on the team that's down," forward Pat Garrity added. "So you just try to fight hard and try not to show the other team up."

Going into Friday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks, the Magic had scored 100 or more points in eight of their nine home games and eclipsed the 110-point barrier on five occasions.

UNBEARA-BULL

Jud Buechler, who was the only Magic player not to score Wednesday night during the 102-74 romp over the Bulls, used to take twisted pleasure in seeing the franchise with which he won three championship rings become a travesty.

But with 3 1/2 years having passed since the Bulls' last title, his feelings have mellowed.

"It's just like this black cloud is over the Chicago Bulls right now," Buechler said. "And I hate to see it like that, but that's what it's turned into."

The Bulls have won barely 20 percent of their games since Michael Jordan retired, Scottie Pippen was traded, Dennis Rodman took his antics elsewhere and Phil Jackson stepped down as coach with Tim Floyd taking his place.

"Losing makes everybody play one-on-one and want to score and be selfish," Buechler said. "It's tough. It's the exact opposite of what it was when I left. And that's too bad."

BLOWOUT CITY

The Magic's combined 70-point margin of victory over the Grizzlies and the Bulls set a franchise record in consecutive wins. They had beaten the Sacramento Kings and the Hawks by a total of 62 points in December 1992 and equalled that figure against the Bulls and the Detroit Pistons in April 1999.

The most one-sided home victory in Magic history remains their 129-83 squashing of the Philadelphia 76ers in February 1995. The 113-71 pasting of the Grizzlies is second, followed by a 155-116 win over the Denver Nuggets in December 1990 -- with Scott Skiles setting a record by handing out 30 assists -- and a 103-67 trouncing of the Bulls in March 2000.

Three nights after blowing out the Sixers, the Magic hammered the Milwaukee Bucks 152-104 on the road. But sandwiched between those victories was a loss at Minnesota.

NICK'S NUMBER

Nick Anderson, who was an integral part of the Magic for 10 years, is campaigning to have the franchise retire his No. 25 jersey after he calls it a career.

While in Orlando and unable to play for the Grizzlies because of a sprained left ankle, Anderson pointed out that the Magic haven't had anyone wear his old number since they traded Chris Gatling during the 1999-2000 season. The deal occurred two months after Anderson, then with the Kings, complained that bestowing the number on Gatling was a slap in the face.

"If Mr. (Rich) DeVos (the owner of the Magic) has something to say about it, it'll happen," Anderson said of hoisting his jersey to the rafters.