Howard leads Magic to sixth straight win
March 10, 2010
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)—Dwight Howard(notes) had 22 points and 15 rebounds, and theOrlando Magic rolled past the Los Angeles Clippers, 113-87 on Tuesday night totie a season high with their sixth straight victory.
Jameer Nelson(notes) had 17 points and Rashard Lewis(notes) added 15 to help the Magictake a 26-point halftime lead and cruise to a blowout after beating the Lakersin an NBA finals rematch Sunday.
Baron Davis(notes) fought through a stomach illness that forced him to miss theClippers’ morning shootaround. He came off the bench to finish with 16 points,and Chris Kaman(notes) added 12 as Los Angeles lost for the sixth time in the lastseven games.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Ste… AP – Mar 9, 8:27 pm EST Orlando Magic guard J.J. Redic… AP – Mar 9, 8:23 pm EST
Los Angeles Clippers center Ch… AP – Mar 9, 8:20 pm EST
Los Angeles Clippers guard Bar… AP – Mar 9, 8:20 pm EST
Los Angeles Clippers forward D… AP – Mar 9, 8:12 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 4; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100310/capt.d4508e9e0c54499887723cc5ce7678cd.clippers_magic_basketball_doa104.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=241&hc=268&q=70&sig=plQby3Auj55DYuNZsK.V3A--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100310/capt.8d491971500e4559a83c306abdf7529d.clippers_magic_basketball_doa103.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=334&hc=371&q=70&sig=l2TGS0TnI_KMZvqmZaX2pA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100310/capt.929af90414a34b1e9bab19e976c07adf.clippers_magic_basketball_doa102.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=323&hc=359&q=70&sig=JPvB5KJn5pnV_nfzCZNCIw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100310/capt.b2263c0e3f164bdbb3ea840fab895d04.clippers_magic_basketball_doa101.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=264&hc=293&q=70&sig=cbtAehaxoFdpeL5pwmy2LA--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 5 LAC-Orl Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();
The Clippers announced Tuesday that Mike Dunleavy and the team partedcompany for good, barely a month after he relinquished his head coaching dutiesto focus solely on being general manager.
The Magic were trying to muster whatever energy they had left after a bigwin against the Lakers in a bruising battle two days earlier.
Turned out, they had plenty.
Los Angeles’ other team didn’t take as much effort or offer as much talentto slow down Orlando. The Clippers had little intensity and allowed the Magic toput this one away early, turning things into a highlight show.
It was hardly a shocker that Howard led the way—except for the way he did.
Sure, Howard had his blocks, swatting one of Drew Gooden’s(notes) shots into theseats near the Clippers’ bench. And he had his dunks, hustling on one play tobeat Kaman down court and finish with a two-handed slam.
But his ballhandling skills? That one surprised everybody.
The All-Star center took a rebound and led a fast break late in the secondquarter. He made a quick dribble down the lane before he dished to Brandon Bass(notes)for a dunk, bringing a crowd that had exhausted itself two days earlier back toits feet.
Howard spread his arms wide mimicking an airplane in celebration, smiling,laughing, rousing the fans in a game that otherwise lacked drama. The playhighlighted a big first half for the Magic and their big man, with Howard’s 18points and 11 rebounds—playing all 24 minutes—before intermission givingthem a 67-41 lead.
It was obvious Magic coach Stan Van Gundy wanted to seal the victoryquickly. He played Howard the first 32 minutes before relieving his star centerfor good.
That was just too much for the Clippers.
NOTES: Gooden makes his home in the Orlando area, but getting to sleep inhis own bed Monday night was more than just a perk. Gooden, who has had twostints with the Magic and shuffled around the league the last eight years, saidthis is the first season he hasn’t taken his bed to his new team’s city. “Thebed was so good, I took two naps today,” he said. “I was always told your bedis more important than your car.” … Magic SF Matt Barnes(notes) and reserve C AdonalFoyle(notes) both celebrated birthdays Tuesday. Barnes turned 30, and Foyle is now 35.… Yankees ace CC Sabathia was sitting in the first row on the baseline.
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