Recap: Orlando Magic squeak out 110-92 win over Washington Wizards
Dwight Howard completely dominated the middle stanza and scored 22 points and 15 rebounds to help Orlando Magic squeak out 110-92 win over Washington Wizards at Verizon Centre on Friday.
Howard was the star of the play while the pre-game attention was on Gilbert Arenas who had a successful return to Washington D.C. Arenas posted 10 points, six rebounds and six assists for Orlando, which snapped a two-game skid.
It was Arenas’ first journey with his new team to D.C. since 18 December when he was traded to the Orlando after tumultuous seven-plus years with wizards. The hastily announced trade of the player came after a 50-game suspension for bringing firearms into
the team’s locker room in December 2009.
"I expected to get booed some, glad I got cheered. It just shows that people understand it was one year, one bad mistake, and it can't erase seven good years that I had here," Arenas said.
"All feelings change when you have growth and when you get older. I'm a year older and a year wiser than I was last year," he said.
According to Orlando coach, Stan Van Gundy, Arenas has been a team player.
“His attitude has been great. He’s been working at it hard. He’s been a team guy. He came right in and made a sacrifice coming off the bench. I always have respect for guys who are willing to make sacrifices for the good of the team,” Van Gundy said.
Ryan Anderson chipped in with 19 points-10 in the first quarter and Jason Richardson notched 18 points for Magic, who got fifth consecutive victory over Washington. J.J. Redick tallied 15 points for the victors.
Nick Young and Kirk Hinrich each led Washington with 17 points. Wizards have lost their seventh game in a row.
Howard notched 10 points and seven rebounds in the opening quarter to give Magic a 29-15 edge after 12 minutes. Wizards were in front by four points in the second quarter, but they lost the advantage late, and Orlando tailed, 51-49, at half-time.
With less than six minutes left in the third quarter, Young hit a technical free throw which gave Washington a 62-61 edge.
After a short time, Anderson's three-pointer provided Magic the lead, and Jameer Nelson then dished out two of his 11 assists, resulting in a 68-62 margin.
At the end of the third quarter, J.J. Redick’s three-pointer and his technical free throw pushed Magic’s lead to 74-64. Earl Clark had a dunk in the opening of the fourth quarter which capped the monumental spurt.
Wizards could not get closer than eight points the rest of the way. Magic sealed the victory with a 15-4 run, extending their lead to 107-88.
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