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Magic win in OT, knock Bobcats out of playoff race

Apr 7, 2011 - 6:29 AM Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Gilbert Arenas finished with 25 points, hitting 6-of-11 from three-point range, as the Orlando Magic won their 50th game of the season, topping the Charlotte Bobcats 111-102 in overtime.

The loss officially knocked Charlotte out of playoff contention.

Brandon Bass added 19 points and eight rebounds for the Magic, who are locked into the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Jameer Nelson scored 18 with nine assists and Dwight Howard posted 15 points and six blocks for the victors.

Howard did have a setback, recording his 18th technical foul of the season, which will get him a one-game suspension if it is upheld by the league.

Gerald Henderson scored a career-high 32 points for Charlotte but it was not enough to keep the Bobcats' hopes of a playoff berth alive. Their loss, along with the Indiana Pacers' victory over Washington, officially eliminated them from contention.

The Magic held a 96-91 lead with 1:39 remaining in regulation after a pair of Bass free throws. After both teams missed a field goal that Bobcats called a timeout.

Out of the break, Kwame Brown sank a short jumper with 44.1 seconds remaining to make it a one-possession game, and after a Henderson layup was blocked, D.J. Augustin drilled a three-pointer with 16.6 seconds to tie the game at 96.

Augustin missed a reverse layup in the final second to send the game into the extra period.

Orlando held the Bobcats to only six points in the overtime quarter as it made 6-of-7 from the field, including three from long range, to seal the victory.

"We played well tonight, we just didn't play that well in overtime," Henderson said.

Henderson scored 12 in the first quarter on 5-of-7 from the field as the Bobcats held a 28-26 lead after 12 minutes. Charlotte widened its lead to 53-47 at the half.

The Bobcats held a 77-71 lead entering the fourth quarter, and Orlando forced Charlotte to only 39 percent from the field as it pulled ahead in the final minutes of regulation before the late comeback.

Game Notes

The Magic ended a three-game road losing streak...Orlando is now 22-18 on the road...The Bobcats have dropped four straight...Hedo Turkoglu scored 17 with seven rebounds for the victors...Dante Cunningham scored 16 with 10 rebounds in the loss...Boris Diaw finished with 17 points with seven assists for Charlotte.