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2:00 P.M.: Bobcats Try To Get Offense In Gear, Avoid 3-0 Series Deficit Against Magic
Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Jameer Nelson scored a game-high 32 points and the Orlando Magic made enough free throws down the stretch to escape Time Warner Cable Arena with a 90-86 victory and a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Charlotte Bobcats in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal set.
The Magic, who won both games in Orlando by a combined 24 points, clinched the tight affair by making 9-of-10 at the foul line in the final 3:13.
Dwight Howard, again playing with foul trouble for most of the game, finished with 13 points and eight rebounds for Orlando, which received 14 points from Rashard Lewis despite the sharpshooter being hindered by a sore left ankle.
Stephen Jackson ended with a team-high 19 points but missed a potential go- ahead three-pointer down the stretch for the Bobcats, who are still searching for the franchise's first postseason win.
Orlando can close out the series in Game 4 on Monday.
The game was knotted at 66-all heading to the fourth, and it was essentially a one-possession game the rest of the way.
Howard's dunk while being fouled gave the Magic a 79-77 lead with 4:09 to go. After missing the ensuing free throw, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year committed his sixth foul while Raymond Felton dropped in a layup.
Felton made the go-ahead free throw with 3:32 left as Howard took a seat on the bench. Lewis got to the foul line on the next two Orlando possessions and hit all four attempts for an 83-80 lead with 2:41 on the clock.
After missed three-balls at both ends, Larry Hughes hit two free throws to cut the deficit to one. Nelson answered with a mid-range bucket but missed a contested layup after a Charlotte offensive foul.
Felton got Charlotte within 85-84 on a layup inside the one-minute mark, and Diaw grabbed Nelson’s miss at the other end.
Coming out of a timeout with 31.3 seconds left, Jackson was off the mark on a three-point attempt from the top of the key.
Vince Carter grabbed the rebound and made two freebies with 23.6 showing, and Marcin Gortat, after altering Felton's quick layup attempt, hit 1-of-2 free throws to essentially seal the win.
Nelson capped a remarkable 19-point first quarter with a four-point play for a 29-27 edge after 12 minutes.
Howard picked up his third foul 1:20 into the second and was hit with a technical for arguing the call. Charlotte scored nine of the next 11 points, with Hughes’ drive and layup resulting in a 36-31 lead four minutes in.
Hughes’ three-pointer just before the break gave the Bobcats a 46-41 advantage heading into halftime, and the margin went to nine early in the third. Orlando, though, responded with an 11-point run. Nelson had seven during the spurt and his jumper gave the visitors a 52-50 lead with 8:24 left in the stanza.
Charlotte was 31-10 at home during the regular season...Orlando has won 13 of the last 15 games against Charlotte, including the postseason...The Magic won the battle on the glass, 43-33, but committed 21 turnovers, six more than the Bobcats...Hughes scored 14 points, while Felton and Gerald Wallace each netted 13 for the Bobcats...Howard blocked seven shots for the Magic, who got 10 points from Carter.
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