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Howard, Magic pull away from the Mavs

Jan 9, 2011 - 5:04 AM Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Dwight Howard finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic pulled away from the Dallas Mavericks in the fourth quarter for a 117-107 decision at American Airlines Center.

Jason Richardson added 20 points and Jameer Nelson went for 16 for Orlando, which outscored the hosts, 37-26, in the final stanza to extend its winning streak to nine. Hedo Turkoglu chipped in 13 points and a career-high 17 assists for the victors.

DeShawn Stevenson posted 24 points while Shawn Marion scored 18 to go with eight rebounds for the Mavericks, who fell to 2-5 since star forward Dirk Nowitzki went down with a knee injury.

"We've just got to keep fighting," Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle said. "It was a tough game to play defensively because of the way they stretched the floor."

Dallas held a slim 81-80 edge before completely falling apart over the final 12 minutes. Turkoglu converted a three-point play for an 85-84 lead 66 seconds in, and the Magic held the lead from there.

Gilbert Arenas' make from long range jump-started a 14-0 run a little later, which was highlighted by Howard's alley-oop slam with 6 1/2 minutes left.

Carlisle, clearly frustrated, waltzed onto the court at the midway point and was whistled for a pair of technicals and ejected from the game.

J.J. Redick's subsequent two free throws pushed the margin to 102-87, and the visitors cruised to the finish line.

The Mavs started strong and held a 28-19 lead after the opening quarter.

Dallas extended its lead to 50-34 on two Marion free throws, but the Magic scored 17 points in the final three minutes of the half -- 12 coming from three-point range -- to get within 57-51.

"I thought we did a good job fighting," the usually-negative Stan Van Gundy said of his Magic club. "We really couldn't stop them for very long at any point in the game, but our offense came through in the second half."

Game Notes

Orlando also visits the Hornets, Thunder, Timberwolves and Celtics on a five- game road trip...The Mavs had won seven of the previous nine meetings...Arenas netted 14 points for the Magic, whose 14 made three-pointers edged the Mavs' 12...Jason Terry ended with 16 points and nine helpers in defeat.