Carter’s 48 help Magic rally by Hornets
February 9, 2010
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)—Vince Carter(notes) had a season-high 48 points, leading theOrlando Magic back from a 17-point second-half deficit to beat the New OrleansHornets 123-117 on Monday night.
Carter was 19 for 27 shooting and had 34 points in the second half with someof the most sizzling moves since he joined the Magic, who have won nine of theirlast 11 games.
Dwight Howard(notes) added 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Rashard Lewis(notes) finishedwith 18 points for Orlando.
Peja Stojakovic(notes) had 29 points, and Darren Collison(notes) and David West(notes) added 27points apiece for the Hornets, who have lost four of five since Chris Paul(notes) wentdown with an injured left knee.
New Orleans Hornets forward Pe… AP – Feb 8, 9:52 pm EST New Orleans Hornets guard Darr… AP – Feb 8, 9:46 pm EST
Orlando Magic center Marcin Go… AP – Feb 8, 9:46 pm EST
New Orleans Hornets forward Pe… AP – Feb 8, 9:24 pm EST
Orlando Magic guard Vince Cart… AP – Feb 8, 9:17 pm EST
Orlando Magic center Dwight Ho… AP – Feb 8, 9:15 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 5; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100209/capt.f06993c303ce45b2b5d35b15ae341f78.hornets_magic_basketball_doa105.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=297&hc=330&q=70&sig=ujBZ4yNRcGAfnKjhUn9Raw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100209/capt.f8a2a338d33e410889e1e1337e5cbf0a.hornets_magic_basketball_doa104.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=277&hc=308&q=70&sig=GuKJ44QjwCzjus3G9oDing--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100209/capt.79580ac69ee944d7a8766395fa023cc8.hornets_magic_basketball_doa103.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=268&hc=298&q=70&sig=QQU3ndNmrCGwM7CvTeCkLQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100209/capt.876539b14ad54df4b0ad3018f34dd019.hornets_magic_basketball_doa102.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=290&hc=322&q=70&sig=0bUi9wg7XirMQgK8TxNEtw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100209/capt.e903a1b323d543a1b2431d4a851193bd.hornets_magic_basketball_doa101.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=292&hc=324&q=70&sig=Sfyduzf95dtw7QemXhYAmA--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 6 NO-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();
For at least one night, Vinsanity was back. With plenty of other fireworks.
Darius Songaila(notes) was called for a flagrant-one foul with 6:21 left in thefourth after he wrapped up Howard and tossed him to the ground. Howard made thefree throws, then Carter had a jumper and a step-back 3-pointer at the top ofthe key to tie the game at 106.
Carter followed that by slicing into the lane and finishing strong with hisright hand for a layup, drawing a foul on James Posey(notes) for a three-point play. Hewould later hit another 3-pointer—his sixth of the game—and stand nearmidcourt, soaking in the celebration, pumping his chest and popping his jersey.
He wasn’t done.
Carter would add a fall-away floater over Posey from the baseline to extendOrlando’s lead to 116-110, and he would later make a pair of free throws to sealthe win.
It was by far Carter’s best performance since he was traded from New Jerseyin the offseason, finishing three shy of his career high. The eight-timeAll-Star expected to be Orlando’s missing piece to a title was back in peakform, and the Magic can only hope he stays there.
The short-handed Hornets had no answer.
Playing without the injured Paul and Marcus Thornton(notes) (lower back), they justcouldn’t keep pace at the end. Early on, the Hornets seemed just fine withouttheir injured backcourt.
Stojakovic, Collison and West were hitting from inside and out to finishwith 16 points apiece at halftime. As quickly as the Magic trimmed a 14-pointdeficit to six, the Hornets extended their lead even quicker.
West closed the half with two straight three-point plays, the last coming ona fast-break layup, losing his balance and falling into the media table behindthe basket after being fouled by Howard. West’s free throw gave New Orleans a70-55 lead at the break.
NOTES: Hornets coach Jeff Bower said before the game that he was happy forthe city of New Orleans that the Saints beat the Colts in the Super Bowl. “Itjust really makes you feel good,” Bower said. “We’re fans like everybodyelse.” … A winter snow storm expected to hit the Midwest in the next coupledays could threaten Orlando’s travel plans. The Magic play at Chicago onWednesday and at Cleveland on Thursday. “I hope we can get in. I just want tomake sure we can get out,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said, laughing.
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