Birthday boy Howard leads Magic to win
December 9, 2009
LOS ANGELES (AP)—Dwight Howard(notes) had 25 points and 11 rebounds on his 24thbirthday, Rashard Lewis(notes) added 17 points and the Orlando Magic held off the LosAngeles Clippers for their sixth straight victory, 97-86 Tuesday night.
Jason Williams(notes) scored 16 points while hitting four 3-pointers for the Magic,who kept pace with Boston atop the Eastern Conference with their 11th win in 12games. Thanks to a smooth fourth-quarter surge, the Magic also won their eighthstraight road game, setting a new franchise record for a single season.
Eric Gordon(notes) scored 21 points and Baron Davis(notes) had 18 points and 11 assistsfor the Clippers, who had won five of seven before losing to the Magic for thesixth straight time.
Orlando Magic center Dwight Ho… AP – Dec 9, 12:04 am EST Orlando Magic forward Rashard … AP – Dec 9, 12:03 am EST
Los Angeles Clippers guard Seb… AP – Dec 9, 12:03 am EST
Los Angeles Clippers forward C… AP – Dec 9, 12:02 am EST
Orlando Magic center Dwight Ho… AP – Dec 9, 12:02 am EST
Los Angeles Clippers guard Bar… AP – Dec 9, 12:02 am EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 5; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091209/capt.0532170a64c14fb3902feb67783bb201.magic_clippers_basketball_las102.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=277&hc=308&q=70&sig=nP2sF9aQy1Ygvm4HycstLw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091209/capt.683bb783866f40d2abdced1a8d25994f.magic_clippers_basketball_las103.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=253&hc=281&q=70&sig=LDvjN7fIyLwtCRgVbo4ifA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091209/capt.1dfb178a9b5142f88f6780b86d4603ea.magic_clippers_basketball_las104.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=58&yc=1&wc=295&hc=328&q=70&sig=tMzTcpLBBHlA1XVC4wPdCA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091209/capt.0b1eea3e7a97454482b587461bd44d1a.magic_clippers_basketball_las105.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=248&hc=276&q=70&sig=15Zjy_2X6aPFqmhbi3bbqQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091209/capt.7cd432a01b5041d6a18fd0417da7a6d0.magic_clippers_basketball_las106.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=264&hc=293&q=70&sig=.OZkG2ROdpy9aHvfoSDkIg--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 6 Orl-LAC 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();
Vince Carter(notes) had just 13 points—four in the final minute—for Orlando,which broke open a tight game with a 14-2 run that stretched into the fourthquarter. The defending Eastern Conference champions looked solid in their returnto the building where they lost the first two games of last summer’s NBA finalsto the Lakers.
As usual, the Magic were led by Howard, who heard shouts of birthdaywell-wishes throughout the night at Staples Center. He frequently played up tothe crowd, exchanging small talk and joking with officials—and several dozenfans waited to scream his name after the game, when he threw his jersey into thecrowd.
The Magic won nine straight road games spanning two seasons in 2007. Halfwaythrough a four-game road trip, Orlando will attempt to match that recordThursday night in Utah.
Chris Kaman(notes) scored 16 points and Al Thornton(notes) added 15 for the Clippers, whohave beaten just two teams with winning records this season.
Orlando had its biggest offensive game of the season last Saturday night atGolden State, while the Clippers had their best defensive game of the yearagainst Indiana. The Magic’s success carried over more easily, with Orlandoopening this game with a remarkable two-man offensive barrage from Howard andLewis.
Howard made his first five shots, barreling past Kaman for more than oneembarrassing dunk, while Lewis hit 3-pointers on three consecutive possessionsmidway through the period, drawing appreciative oohs from Clippers fans.
Neither star missed a shot until late in the first half, and Williams alsohit three 3-pointers in the opening period to put Orlando up by 10. Yet theClippers kept it close with balanced scoring while forcing turnovers.
Los Angeles took its first lead by scoring nine straight points in the thirdquarter, but Anthony Johnson(notes) put the Magic in front to stay late in the period,and Mickael Pietrus(notes) made a desperate 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left as part ofthe decisive run.
NOTES: Davis came out of his right shoe while driving the lane early in thethird quarter. … The Clippers held Indiana to 72 points last Saturday night.Orlando had 73 after three quarters. … San Francisco Giants left-hander BarryZito attended the game. He lives in Los Angeles in the offseason.