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Magic strong in final minutes, rally past Sixers

Apr 8, 2012 - 6:18 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Dwight Howard scored 20 points with 22 rebounds and the Orlando Magic avoided their first six-game losing streak in more than six years with an 88-82 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.

Glen Davis had a game-high 23 points and 12 boards for the Magic, who snapped a five-game losing streak -- their first in more than five years.

"We really needed this win," said Howard.

None of the five Sixers starters scored in double digits. Thaddeus Young had a team-high 20 points and Jodie Meeks scored 11 of his 16 during a big run in the first half that gave Philadelphia a 10-point lead.

But the Sixers faltered down the stretch and dropped their third straight to fall two games behind Boston for first place in the Atlantic Division.

The Sixers, down by as many as 10 in the first quarter, turned the tables with a 24-4 run that put them ahead by 10.

Meeks' 11 points during the run included a trio of big threes. The first got the Sixers within 24-19 at the end of the quarter; the second gave them their first lead at 29-26; and the last one capped the burst and made it 38-28.

"Jodie's a glue guy," said Sixers coach Doug Collins, who said he was looking for more chemistry out of his lineup.

The Sixers, after holding the Magic to just 20 percent shooting in the second quarter, carried a 45-37 lead into halftime.

Orlando tied the game midway through the third quarter on a Jason Richardson three-pointer and later took a four-point lead on his floater. The Sixers came back with a 7-0 run, taking the lead on another Meeks three-pointer, but the Magic carried a 62-61 edge into the fourth quarter.

Howard and Richardson scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter for an eight-point lead, but the Sixers came back later to take a 73-72 edge on Elton Brand's runner.

Magic guard J.J. Redick ended up being the difference, scoring nine of his 19 points in a row and giving his team an 82-76 lead on a three with 3:23 left. The Sixers trimmed it to two, but Howard made enough foul shots down the stretch to keep the Magic in front, finishing the game 12-of-18 from the line.

Game Notes

The teams split two previous meetings this season, but Orlando has won five of the last six and 13 of 15 in the series. They will play again April 16 in Orlando...The Magic announced Friday that forward Hedo Turkoglu would miss the remainder of the regular season after suffering three facial fractures in Thursday's loss to New York which will require surgery. He is expected to be out three weeks...The Sixers will start a three-game road trip in Boston on Sunday...The Magic, who are back home versus Detroit on Monday, haven't lost six in a row since Feb. 26-March 6, 2006.