Friday, March 16, 2012
ORLANDO — Dwight Howard scored 18, Jameer Nelson and Glen Davis each had 13 and the Magic easily beat the Nets 86-70 Friday night.
Ryan Anderson added 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, which built a 20-point lead and cruised from there. Orlando won for the fourth time in five games and extended its winning streak against the Nets to 10.
Reserve Gerald Green scored 15 to lead the Nets, who have now lost three of four.
Orlando heads to Miami on Sunday for its final regular-season meeting with the Heat.
Had Howard not signed a waiver of his early termination option before Thursday's trade deadline, which will keep him in Orlando to begin next season, New Jersey was likely one of the six teams general manager Otis Smith said put in offers for the All-Star center.
None of that mattered Friday.
Howard was 8-for-10 from the floor despite being forced for most of the night to pass out of double teams in the post.
It did open up the floor for his teammates, who were able to get free for open jump shots.
Howard got a huge ovation from the Orlando fans during player introductions and had 10 points in the first half.
Coach Stan Van Gundy said while it was nice to see the Howard saga resolved, it didn't dominate his day.
"I was doing my New Jersey film, I don't really remember exactly (when he found out)," he said. "It was a big moment for our organization, but it wasn't like the JFK moment where everybody remembers what they were doing. It wasn't quite that big."
Game highlights: LeBron James scored 29, Dwyane Wade had 12 points and 10 rebounds and the Heat held on to beat the host 76ers 84-78. Miami almost collapsed after leading by 29 in the third quarter. The 76ers sliced the deficit to four points, but James hit a pull-up jumper and sank a pair of free throws in the final 90 seconds. … One day after trading starters Gerald Wallace and Marcus Camby and then firing coach Nate McMillan, the Blazers got 21 points from LaMarcus Aldridge and beat the host Bulls 100-89. Chicago played without guard Derrick Rose, who sat with a strained groin. … Joe Johnson matched his season high with 34 points, including the first two baskets of a decisive 11-0 run in the fourth quarter, and the host Hawks beat the Wizards 102-88. … Tyson Chandler scored 16, Jeremy Lin had 13, and the host Knicks rolled under new coach Mike Woodson, beating the Pacers 115-100.
Fisher Buyout? Guard Derek Fisher, who was traded at the deadline from the Lakers to the Rockets, will reportedly have his $3.4 million option for next season bought out and become a free agent, CBSSports.com reported. Fisher was a no-show in Houston after he and a first-round pick were dealt for forward Jordan Hill. The Rockets were thought to need a backup point guard as starter Kyle Lowry slowly recovers from a bacterial infection. But Goran Dragic has filled in capably, and the Houston Chronicle reported that veteran Mike James could be brought in. The Rockets essentially gained a first-round pick because the Lakers wanted to be rid of Fisher.
Rubio out: Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio will have reconstructive surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee next week and will miss the rest of the season.
Magic 86, Nets 70
NEW JERSEY (70): Stevenson 4-6 0-0 11, Humphries 0-6 4-4 4, S.Williams 2-4 0-0 4, Gaines 2-13 1-2 6, Brooks 1-11 0-0 2, Morrow 3-12 0-0 6, Green 6-9 1-2 14, J.Smith 2-7 0-0 5, Petro 4-7 0-0 8, J.Williams 4-8 2-2 10. Totals 28-83 8-10 70.
ORLANDO (86): Turkoglu 3-8 3-4 10, Anderson 4-11 3-4 12, Howard 8-10 2-3 18, Nelson 5-8 0-0 13, J.Richardson 4-9 0-0 10, Redick 2-7 1-2 6, Duhon 1-3 0-0 2, Davis 6-9 1-1 13, Clark 1-2 0-0 2, Liggins 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 34-67 10-14 86.
New Jersey 18 18 24 10— 70
Orlando 22 24 26 14— 86
3-Point Goals—New Jersey 6-20 (Stevenson 3-5, Green 1-2, J.Smith 1-3, Gaines 1-5, Morrow 0-2, Brooks 0-3), Orlando 8-29 (Nelson 3-4, J.Richardson 2-5, Turkoglu 1-5, Redick 1-5, Anderson 1-7, Davis 0-1, Duhon 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—New Jersey 46 (Petro 7), Orlando 48 (Anderson 11). Assists—N.J. 16 (Morrow 5), Orlando 24 (Turkoglu, Nelson 6). Total Fouls—N.J. 14, Orlando 12. A—18,938.
Blazers 100, Bulls 89
PORTLAND (100): Batum 6-11 0-0 15, Aldridge 9-18 3-3 21, Przybilla 1-4 0-0 2, Felton 6-11 3-3 16, Matthews 6-11 2-3 18, Thomas 0-0 0-0 0, Crawford 3-12 1-1 8, N.Smith 5-7 0-0 12, Babbitt 1-3 0-0 2, C.Smith 2-2 2-2 6. Totals 39-79 11-12 100.
CHICAGO (89): Deng 7-18 4-5 19, Boozer 9-14 4-4 22, Noah 6-12 0-0 12, Watson 4-12 0-0 10, Brewer 1-2 0-0 3, Gibson 3-7 1-2 7, Korver 1-5 0-0 3, Lucas 3-11 0-0 8, Asik 1-2 0-0 2, Butler 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 36-85 9-11 89.
Portland 29 21 28 22— 100
Chicago 32 21 26 10— 89
3-Point Goals—Portland 11-21 (Matthews 4-5, Batum 3-4, N.Smith 2-2, Felton 1-2, Crawford 1-6, Babbitt 0-2), Chicago 8-27 (Watson 2-7, Lucas 2-8, Butler 1-1, Brewer 1-1, Korver 1-3, Deng 1-7). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Portland 43 (Batum 9), Chicago 49 (Boozer 14). Assists—Portland 17 (Felton 5), Chicago 21 (Noah 5). Total Fouls—Portland 15, Chicago 15. Technicals—Przybilla, Boozer, Chicago defensive three second 2. A—22,022.
Heat 84, 76ers 78
MIAMI (84): James 12-20 5-8 29, Bosh 4-12 2-3 10, Anthony 1-2 0-0 2, Chalmers 4-6 0-0 10, Wade 6-16 0-2 12, Haslem 5-7 0-2 10, Battier 2-5 1-2 6, Jones 1-2 0-0 3, Cole 0-4 2-2 2. Totals 35-74 10-19 84.
PHILADELPHIA (78): Iguodala 4-11 3-4 11, Brand 3-8 0-0 6, Vucevic 4-9 1-1 9, Holiday 3-16 0-0 7, Turner 6-13 0-2 13, Williams 4-15 2-5 12, T.Young 4-10 0-0 8, Allen 2-2 0-0 4, Meeks 3-8 0-0 7, S.Young 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 33-93 7-14 78.
Miami 31 26 12 15— 84
Philadelphia 18 12 26 22— 78
3-Point Goals—Miami 4-12 (Chalmers 2-3, Jones 1-2, Battier 1-2, Cole 0-1, James 0-2, Wade 0-2), Philadelphia 5-18 (Williams 2-6, Turner 1-2, Holiday 1-4, Meeks 1-5, Iguodala 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Miami 51 (Wade 11), Philadelphia 64 (Iguodala 10). Assists—Miami 25 (James 8), Phi. 20 (Turner 5). Total Fouls—Miami 11, Phi 17. A—20,396.
Knicks 115, Pacers 100
INDIANA (100): Granger 4-15 0-0 9, West 3-6 2-2 8, Hibbert 2-10 0-1 4, Collison 4-7 7-7 15, George 2-6 0-2 5, Hansbrough 3-7 6-6 12, Hill 3-6 5-6 12, Amundson 3-5 0-0 6, Price 4-8 3-3 14, Jones 3-6 5-7 13, Stephenson 1-4 0-0 2, Pendergraph 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 32-81 28-34 100.
NEW YORK (115): Anthony 4-12 4-5 12, Stoudemire 3-9 2-2 8, Chandler 8-11 0-0 16, Lin 3-7 6-6 13, Fields 1-5 5-8 7, Jeffries 2-3 1-3 5, Shumpert 3-7 2-2 9, Davis 3-3 0-0 7, Novak 4-8 0-0 12, Smith 6-11 2-2 16, Harrellson 3-3 0-0 7, Bibby 1-2 0-0 3, Jordan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 41-81 22-28 115.
Indiana 14 17 27 42— 100
New York 24 26 38 27— 115
3-Point Goals—Indiana 8-19 (Price 3-4, Jones 2-3, Hill 1-2, George 1-4, Granger 1-5, Stephenson 0-1), N.Y. 11-25 (Novak 4-8, Smith 2-6, Bibby 1-1, Harrellson 1-1, Lin 1-1, Davis 1-1, Shumpert 1-2, Fields 0-2, Anthony 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Indiana 52 (Hansbrough, George 6), New York 49 (Anthony, Fields, Chandler 7). Assists—Indiana 17 (Hill, Collison 4), New York 22 (Lin, Anthony 5). Total Fouls—Indiana 24, New York 24. Technicals—Smith, New York three second. Flagrant Fouls—Anthony. A—19,763.
Hawks 102, Wizards 88
WASHINGTON (88): Singleton 1-3 0-0 2, Booker 8-14 2-2 18, Seraphin 5-7 0-0 10, Wall 6-13 2-2 14, Crawford 2-9 1-2 6, Blatche 5-10 1-2 11, Vesely 3-3 1-1 7, Mason 5-9 0-0 12, Evans 1-5 0-0 3, Mack 2-5 0-0 5. Totals 38-78 7-9 88.
ATLANTA (102): J.Johnson 12-19 4-4 34, Smith 9-17 3-4 23, Pachulia 4-10 2-4 10, Teague 6-13 1-1 14, Hinrich 2-8 0-0 5, McGrady 1-3 0-0 2, I.Johnson 3-6 0-0 6, Pargo 3-6 0-0 8, Radmanovic 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 40-83 10-13 102.
Washington 26 28 10 24— 88
Atlanta 30 20 21 31— 102
3-Point Goals—Washington 5-11 (Mason 2-5, Mack 1-1, Evans 1-2, Crawford 1-3), Atlanta 12-27 (J.Johnson 6-8, Smith 2-4, Pargo 2-4, Hinrich 1-4, Teague 1-5, Radmanovic 0-1, McGrady 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Washington 48 (Booker 9), Atlanta 40 (Pachulia 10). Assists—Washington 19 (Wall 9), Atlanta 30 (Smith 8). Total Fouls—Washington 16, Atlanta 12. Flagrant Fouls—Singleton. A—15,241.