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Howard-less Magic entertain Trail Blazers in central Florida

Mar 7, 2011 - 3:48 PM (Sports Network) - The Orlando Magic will be without superstar Dwight Howard Monday when they try to get back in the win column against a Portland club kicking off a four-game road trip.

The NBA suspended Howard for one game without pay for receiving his NBA-high 16th technical foul of the season in Friday's 89-81 loss to Chicago. Under league rules, a player or coach is automatically suspended without pay for one game upon receiving his 16th technical of the regular season. The infraction took place with 1:41 remaining in the second quarter.

For every two additional technicals assessed over the remainder of the campaign, Howard, who is averaging 23.1 points and 13.9 rebounds per game this season, will automatically receive another one-game suspension.

On the floor Friday, Chicago's Derrick Rose finished with 24 points as the Bulls used a dominant second quarter to gain control, then maintained its lead in the second half to beat the Magic, who were coming a Thursday win against the Miami Heat.

"What it really comes down to is executing down the stretch on both ends," said Howard, who finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, but made just four of his 12 free throw attempts.

Brandon Bass and Richardson both finished with 16 points for Orlando, while Jameer Nelson had 14 points and six assists. Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu suffered a right elbow sprain in the first quarter, but returned to the game and finished with two points on 1-of-5 shooting.

The Blazers, who will also visit Miami, Charlotte and Atlanta on its trek, won their second straight game on Saturday when LaMarcus Aldridge scored 26 points as Portland cruised to a 93-69 victory over the Bobcats, beating Charlotte for the fourth straight time.

Coasting down the stretch, Portland rested three of its five starters for the entire fourth quarter. Only Aldridge and point guard Andre Miller played as the Blazers led by as many as 26 points.

Patty Mills scored 12 points and Brandon Roy had 10, both off the bench, as Portland improved to 3-3 in its last six games.

The Blazers have been playing well on the road, winning a season-best five straight away from Rip City but the competition, Cleveland, Toronto, Detroit, Minnesota and Sacramento, has been weak. Portland, which has lost four of its past five in central Florida, hasn't won six consecutive road games since Feb. 18-March 2, 2002.