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With a tough stretch of games on the horizon, the Bobcats picked up a big 96-89 win on the road against the Orlando Magic.

The Bobcats (34-31) were without forward Gerald Wallace for Sunday’s game, but guard Stephen Jackson stepped up in his place, scoring 28 points.

Wallace sat out Sunday’s game with a sprained left ankle that he suffered Friday against the Clippers.

“It was a big win. To win without Gerald against a team like Orlando – one of the best in the East is big for us,” said Jackson. “This really boosts our confidence. We can’t get too high, but this is a big win for us.”

The win over Orlando (47-21) is the sixth-straight win for Charlotte (ties a franchise record), and keeps the Bobcats in sixth place in the Eastern Conference behind fifth place Milwaukee (36-29)

“It was great, because (Orlando’s) as good as anybody,” said Bobcats Head Coach Larry Brown. “We defended like crazy and rebounded great. Our big people had to play great because you have such a tough matchup with Dwight, but Theo, Tyrus, Boris, Tyson – they all played terrific. Stephen (Jackson) made huge plays throughout the hole game, but especially late. It’s a big win.”

The Bobcats will get a break Monday, but they go back to work Tuesday in Indiana when they take on the Pacers (21-45).

“(Indiana) beat us already at their place, but we have a different mindset right now,” said Jackson. “We want to win and know what’s at stake. We can’t lay an egg and have to come out with a win – that’s everybody’s focus.”