Dwight Howard, Ryan Anderson help Orlando Magic end skid; Washington Wizards beaten 109-103: NBA
Dwight Howard put on a show with 23 points and 18 rebounds; Ryan Anderson scored 23 points, including six 3-pointers, while J.J. Redick knocked down 3 of 4 from distances on his way to 21 points as Orlando Magic snapped a four
game losing spin to beat the Washington Wizards 109-103.
The game was tight throughout the first three quarters, but really came to life in the 4th quarter. The frame in which both the teams combined for 75 points, a 14-4 Magic run eventually turned out to be the difference.
Hedo Turkoglu also scored 16 points for the Magic, who finally shrugged off their second half woes. Nick Young finished the night with 24 points while ex- Magic Rashard Lewis added 20 for Washington.
The spirited Wizards, who have now slumped to 1-9 on the road, were a little hard done on foul calls. They only managed to get to the line 9 times as compared to 39 Magic attempts. Wizards head coach Randy Whitman highlighted the
fact post game;
"We've got nine guys playing under rookie contracts, and right now they're not getting the respect, but if we keep playing as hard as we play, night in and night out, we'll eventually get calls. Tonight . . . that's hard to overcome."
The Magic got off to a rollicking start. They started off with 10-2 run and took their advantage to 19-8 on a Redick three deep. The Wizards however responded with a 12-6 foray to make it a five point game at the end of the first
half.
Glen Davis started with second frame with a two to make it 27-20, but in the ensuing passage, the Wizards unleashed a 16-3 spurt to open up a 36-30 lead. The Wizards however missed 11 of their next 14 field goal attempts to allow
Magic back in ascendancy, 47-43, at the break.
Wizards reeled off a 10-2 run early in the third to take a 55-53 lead, but the Magic bounced back with a 10-2 run of their own. The Wizards did not let go though, and carved out an 8-2 burst to tie the game at 65. The teams went
into the last quarter with Magic holding on to a 69-68 lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Magic pulled away early and led by as many as 12, 89-77, midway. The Wizards tried hard to respond, but every attempt they made was nullified by the hot Magic offense, which scored 40 points in the frame.
Both the teams were on fire from the long range. Magic drilled 13 3’s and Washington made 12 of 23.
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