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Lewis, Howard help Magic hold off Bobcats

Nov 7, 2010 - 4:49 AM Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard each scored 22 points, as the Orlando Magic topped the Charlotte Bobcats, 91-88, at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Quentin Richardson ended with 14 points and Vince Carter added 10 points for the Magic, who have won three in a row.

"I've been struggling with my shot lately, but I have to keep shooting and that's what I did tonight," Lewis said. "I finally knocked a couple down and I got my confidence back."

Gerald Wallace finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds and Stephen Jackson added 16 points and six assists for the Bobcats, who are off to a 1-5 start.

The Magic held a 10-point lead midway through the fourth quarter and held off a surge from the Bobcats in the final minutes.

D.J. Augustine hit an 18-foot jumper with 2:34 remaining to cut the lead to seven, 87-80. The Bobcats quickly cut the gap to one.

Jackson hit a driving layup to put the game at 89-88, but Augustine committed a offensive foul that gave the ball back to the Magic. With 9.8 remaining Richardson hit a driving layup to extend the lead to 91-88.

Boris Diaw missed a three pointer with 0.9 ticks left that many in the arena thought ended the game. After an official review, it was shown that the missed shot went out off of the Magic, thus retaining possession for the Bobcats with 0.8 seconds to go.

Bobcats Head Coach Larry Brown called a quick 20 second timeout to set up the final play, and after the inbound pass went to Augustine the Bobcats guard attempted a three-pointer from the corner, but the shot was off target, ending the game.

"We've got to continue to fight, follow our game plan and good things will happen," Jackson said. "We have to find a way to bring the energy from the beginning of the game. We've got to keep working, stay positive and try to turn this thing around."

Howard had 13 points on 6-of-10 from the field in the first to lead the Magic to a 23-15 advantage after 12 minutes of play.

The Magic extended their lead to as many as 11 in the second but the Bobcats used solid free throw shooting, 7-of-8, in the quarter to halt Orlando's chances of making a run. The Magic held a 43-36 lead heading to the locker room.

Orlando used a strong third from Lewis, 11 points on 4-of-5 from the field, to extend their lead to as many as 18 midway through the quarter. A Wallace three-pointer at 5:43 started a 17-5 run for the Bobcats that enabled them to cut the lead to six in the final minute of play.

Jackson missed Charlotte's final two shots of the quarter and the Magic responded with a deep ball from Mickael Pietrus and a running layup from Chris Duhon to put the lead at 11, 73-62, heading into the final stanza.

Game Notes

Augustine finished with nine points and eight assists for Charlotte...Orlando took three of four from the Bobcats last season...Charlotte hit on 10-of-11 from the free throw line.