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Reeling Magic make a stop in Utah

Dec 10, 2010 - 4:14 PM (Sports Network) - Division leaders collide in Salt Lake City tonight as the pacesetters in the Southeast, the reeling Orlando Magic, take on the Northwest-leading Utah Jazz.

The Magic dropped the opener of a four-game road trip in Portland last night when Andre Miller scored 22 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 97-83 victory.

In a spectacular all-around effort, Dwight Howard scored a season-high 39 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and recorded three blocks for Orlando, which has dropped a season-high three straight and is now just one-half game ahead of both Atlanta and Miami in the Southeast.

Rashard Lewis added 11 points, while JJ Redick and Jameer Nelson both scored 10 in defeat as the Magic continue to struggle offensively, scoring just 80.7 points per game during their skid.

"We have to play the game better and we have to play it with a lot more energy, alertness and cohesiveness," said Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy.

The Jazz, meanwhile, fell to 3-2 on a lengthy six-game homestand Wednesday when LeBron James poured in 33 points, dished out nine assists and pulled down seven rebounds, as the Heat stayed hot with a 111-98 victory over Utah.

Al Jefferson had 25 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Jazz, who had won eight of nine coming in. Deron Williams chipped in 21 points and 12 assists for Utah, which got 18 points from Paul Millsap.

"I don't think we (handled him) at all, he got 33 points, nine assists and seven rebounds," Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan said of James. "He's a great player and it looked like at times we were intimidated by him and Wade. I wish we would have got up and got after him like they were getting after us."

Traditionally a very strong home team which has the NBA's best record as the host since the 2006-07 season, Utah is a more pedestrian 9-5 on its home floor this year.

The Magic, however, had a franchise-record eight-game road winning streak halted in last year's visit to Salt Lake City and Utah has already topped Orlando this season -- 104-94 -- in central Florida.