The Sacramento Kings can explode like a sprinter out of the starting blocks.

And it's over before you know it.

The Orlando Magic may be the highest-scoring team in the league, but they were playing with fire Tuesday in trying to run and shoot with the runningest team in the league, giving the Kings the keys to a 112-100 victory.

The Magic (11-12) fell below .500 again with their third consecutive loss, threatening to turn this nine-day road trip into a ship-sinking disaster.

In a theme that is becoming too common this season, the Magic allowed too many open shots to a team loaded with shooters. For the Kings, it was fire at will.

The Magic found the balance they didn't have in Monday's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, but they hardly dented the Kings' armor, letting them defend their home court with a confidence that continues to grow in the tough Western Conference.

Although it was no blowout, the Magic never challenged for the lead once the Kings took control early in the second quarter. The Magic never really recovered from a second-quarter lapse that left them dizzy as the Kings raced past.

Chris Webber and Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento's deadly forward tandem, led everyone with 24 and 23 points, respectively, laying the plan and drawing the double-teams for everyone else. Guard Doug Christie had 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

Tracy McGrady led the Magic with 21 points and six rebounds. He got help from Mike Miller, who had 17 points, Pat Garrity, who had 17 points, and Darrell Armstrong, who had 12.

But it was another good start wasted for the Magic.

Once back-up point guard Bobby Jackson opened with a flurry to start the fourth, the Magic never really had a chance.

The Magic never led, and never really challenged for the lead in the third, yet reserve Troy Hudson at least gave them hope when he scored seven points in the final 1:39 of the period. It was 85-74 when the fourth began.

The Kings led 55-46 at intermission, using wild flurries at the end of each quarter to turn the Magic inside out. The Magic were left gasping as the Kings ran past just before halftime.

Miller, who made only four of 16 shots Monday night, came out aggressive offensively, getting 10 points in the first half, mostly on hard drives to the basket.

When McGrady left the floor, soon the Magic offense did, too, in the first half. It looked a lot like what happened Monday against the Clippers.

The Magic roared to a 26-17 lead, but it disappeared quickly when McGrady took a rest and the Kings took off running. Rookie center Steven Hunter again showed the athleticism that keeps him in the starting lineup. In just the first three minutes, he soared over Webber to grab an offensive rebound, drove and dunked off a pick-and-roll play with Armstrong, and he ran down Stojakovic to block his layup attempt.

Hunter, who failed to scored in Monday night's loss against the Clippers, quieted quickly after his opening burst.

Webber, in just his second game this season after missing 20 with an ankle sprain, made his impact immediately with 12 points in the first quarter.

McGrady came into the game off of back-to-back 40 point nights, scoring 40 points in a loss to Atlanta and 47 points Monday in a loss to the Clippers. It was the first time since Shaquille O'Neal in 1996 that any Magic player scored back-to-back 40 points in the regular season.

McGrady is tied with cousin Vince Carter in Toronto for the NBA lead in 40-point games. Both have done it three times.

The Magic resume this nine-day, six-game trip in Oakland, where they play the Golden State Warriors Thursday night.