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Orlando 66, Cleveland 62

CLEVELAND, June 19 (UPI) -- Nykesha Sales scored 18 points and Shannon Johnson added seven of her 13 in the final seven minutes Wednesday night as the Orlando Miracle rallied for a 66-62 victory over the Cleveland Rockers.

Cleveland was an Eastern Conference-best 14-2 at home last season but has struggled at Gund Arena in 2002, losing three of its first four games. The Rockers were seemingly in command Wednesday until a late collapse sent them towards another loss on their home court.

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Cleveland, which led by as many as 14 points early in the second half, had a 57-52 edge with 7:31 to go but made just five free throws thereafter. The Rockers did not make a basket in the final 8 1/2 minutes.

Johnson provided half the offense during a 14-5, game-ending run and gave Orlando the lead for good at 61-60 on a pair of free throws with 2:23 left. She fed Adrienne Johnson for a three-pointer 50 seconds later.

Cleveland's Penny Taylor sank two free throws to halve the deficit at 37 seconds and Johnson missed a short jumper at the other end. But Taylor missed a three-pointer in the closing seconds and Sales sealed the win from the line with 1.9 seconds remaining.

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Johnson collected eight assists and five rebounds. She made just two of nine shots from the floor but sank nine of 10 free throws.

Elaine Powell scored 11 points of the bench and Taj MacWilliams-Franklin added eight and nine rebounds for Orlando, which won in Cleveland for the first time since Aug. 14, 1999.

Merlakia Jones scored 14 points and Chasity Melvin had 10 as the Rockers lost for the fourth time in five games.

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