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Dwight Howard’s Double-Double Pushes Magic Over Raptors
Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - Dwight Howard had another strong inside game with 18 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks as the Magic ran past the Toronto Raptors, 118-99, spoiling Hedo Turkoglu's return to Orlando.
Rashard Lewis scored 21 and Matt Barnes had 20 in a reserve role for the Magic, who won for the eighth time in 10 games. They are 15-3 against Eastern Conference opponents and 9-0 when facing squads from the Atlantic Division.
Orlando, which shot 57.3 percent from the field, also received 13 points each from Jason Williams and Anthony Johnson. Vince Carter finished with 12 points, seven assists and six rebounds for Orlando, which went 14-of-30 from beyond the arc.
Chris Bosh scored 20 for the Raptors, who lost by 20 at Miami on Tuesday. A night later Toronto lost for the fourth time in five games.
Turkoglu, who had 14 points, made his first visit to Amway Arena since being traded to Toronto in July. He spent five seasons in an Orlando uniform and was instrumental in the team’s run to last season’s NBA Finals. The Raptors fell to 0-3 against the Magic this season, losing the previous two matchups in Toronto by a combined 17 points.
The starting tandem of Lewis, Howard, Carter and Williams was on fire in the first quarter. They combined to go 12-for-15 from the field for 30 of Orlando’s 35 points. The Magic were up 11 after that period and didn’t trail over the final three quarters.
Williams capped a string of eight consecutive points to give the Magic a 27-19 lead, and soon after Howard put in an alley-oop jam off a feed from Carter with 1:27 left in the quarter.
A layup from Barnes expanded the lead to 61-49 with 2:03 remaining in the half to cap a string of six consecutive Orlando points.
It was 66-54 at the break and the Magic led by double digits the rest of the game. The margin stood at 92-79 moving to the fourth and the Magic gained a cushion of 25 down the stretch.
The Raptors will play four of their next five games at home, starting with Friday's contest against New Jersey...The Magic play at Miami Thursday before beginning a five-game homestand vs. Portland on Saturday...Raptors guard Jose Calderon (sore left hip) and forward Reggie Evans (left midfoot sprain) did not make the trip to Florida...Jarrett Jack scored 13 and Andrea Bargnani 12 for the Raptors.
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