Final
Howard leads Magic past Suns
Mar 22, 2012 - 4:52 AM Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - Dwight Howard had 28 points and 16 rebounds and the Orlando Magic snapped a two-game losing streak Wednesday with a 103-93 win over the Phoenix Suns.Ryan Anderson scored a game-high 29 points for the Magic and Glen Davis added 16 off the bench.
Howard and Anderson scored almost as many points as the entire team did during an 85-59 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday, which started the Magic's three- game homestand off on a sour note.
Jared Dudley scored 17 points and Robin Lopez added 14 for the Suns, who lost their second straight and fell two games back of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
"We have to complete plays. We still have got to be able to execute and we have got to be able to jump up and make shots. We didn't do that tonight," Suns head coach Alvin Gentry said.
The Magic, firmly planted in the Eastern Conference's No. 3 spot, led by as many as 22 while shooting 47 percent from the floor, including 11-of-23 on three-pointers.
Anderson scored 21 of his 29 points on 7-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc and J.J. Redick knocked down two threes while scoring 10 points off the bench. Jameer Nelson added nine points in the win, Orlando's third in a row over the Suns.
Although his team's lead was double digits throughout the second half, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said his team "shut down and didn't do a damn thing" on defense down the stretch, allowing the Suns to creep closer at the end.
"We stopped playing defense when we were up 20 and that was disappointing," said Van Gundy. "Up until then we had great focus on what we were doing defensively."
Phoenix's last lead was 6-5 on Dudley's jumper with 8 1/2 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Magic carried a 27-21 advantage into the second and used an 11-2 run in the quarter to build a 14-point cushion. It dipped into single digits several times but Orlando rested at halftime with a 57-44 lead and led by at least 11 points throughout the third quarter.
The advantage reached 20 on Quentin Richardson's layup, was 81-62 going into the fourth and ballooned as high as 22 in the fourth on a Redick three.
Game Notes
Orlando's homestand ends against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday...The Suns fell to 0-2 on a four-game road trip after losing 99-95 in Miami on Tuesday to snap a four-game winning streak. They are 9-4 in March.
- PHOENIX: 93
ORLANDO: 103
Final
Mar 21 9:19 PM - PHOENIX: 62
ORLANDO: 81
End of 3rd
Mar 21 8:49 PM - PHOENIX: 44
ORLANDO: 57
Halftime
Mar 21 8:08 PM - PHOENIX: 21
ORLANDO: 27
End of 1st
Mar 21 7:35 PM - PHOENIX: 0
ORLANDO: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Mar 21 7:11 PM
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