Dwight Howard Dominates As Magic Topple Lakers, 89-75

The Magic outrebounded the Lakers 46 to 34 and shot better from the floor, from deep, and from behind the line. All of that apparently made up for doubling up L.A. in turnovers. /shrugs

For more on the Lakers, checkout Silver Screen And Roll and SB Nation Los Angeles. For Magic analysis, you belong at Orlando Pinstriped Post.

For more on the Lakers, checkout Silver Screen And Roll and SB Nation Los Angeles. For Magic analysis, you belong at Orlando Pinstriped Post.

One number to watch: Orlando has turned the ball over nine times, leading to six Lakers points. If Howard and others can’t hang on to the ball, those extra opportunities for perimeter scorers to find their strokes.

For more on the Lakers, checkout Silver Screen And Roll and SB Nation Los Angeles. For Magic analysis, you belong at Orlando Pinstriped Post.

I’d like to list all the great stats accumulated by players besides Howard and Bynum, but nobody else has done very much of note. Howard played all 12 minutes of the first quarter. At the beginning of the first, both he and Bryant are on the bench.

The Magic shot at a 45 percent clip, besting L.A.’s 36 percent. Their beloved three-pointers are on point so far, with three of six attempts striking home.

Of course, Kobe takes heat when that happens, but it’s worth noting again for emphasis that Bryant implored Pau to be more aggressive ahead of this stretch of games. That’s not Kobe being Selfy McSelfishson. That’s Kobe recognizing that Pau can be passive -- too passive -- and that the Lakers are better when Gasol goes hard. It’s worked, though L.A.‘s defense has also improved of late, and might have more to do with recent success.

For more on the Lakers, checkout Silver Screen And Roll and SB Nation Los Angeles. For Magic analysis, you belong at Orlando Pinstriped Post.