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Howard, Magic aim to complete perfect homestand

Jan 7, 2007 - 3:09 PM Boston (12-20) at Orlando (20-14) 6:00 pm EST

ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- Although the road has been unkind to them, Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic have had all the answers at home this season.

The Magic try to complete a perfect four-game homestand when they host the Boston Celtics on Sunday.

Despite stumbling to a 7-8 road record, Orlando owns a 13-6 mark here. Since dropping four consecutive contests from December 22-29, the Magic have won the first three games of their homestand thanks to their stifling defense, yielding an average of just 76 points over that stretch.

Orlando again was tough defensively in Friday's 106-74 rout of the Charlotte Bobcats. Howard finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots.

Boston, winners in two of its last three, hopes to carry momentum from Friday's 128-119 road win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Wally Szczerbiak scored 26 points and Tony Allen added 20 to help pace the Celtics, who played without injured leading scorer Paul Pierce.