• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Magic turn page on Howard era, rout Nuggets

Nov 3, 2012 - 5:12 AM Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - With the "Dwightmare" in their rear view mirror, the Orlando Magic took their first step in the post Dwight Howard era on Friday.

It was a step in the right direction.

Glen Davis tallied 29 points and 10 rebounds, while J.J. Redick added 21 points in the Magic's 102-89 thumping of the Denver Nuggets.

"It's a good feeling just to win and play well together," Redick said. "I think that was the biggest thing that we played together. We're all on the same page, doing the same thing, no other agendas. That's a really good feeling."

Davis and Redick are two of just four holdovers -- Jameer Nelson and Hedo Turkoglu -- from last year's squad, who fell to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs.

Davis led the Magic in scoring during the preseason with 16.9 points a game.

Howard was traded from the Orlando Magic to the Los Angeles Lakers on Aug. 11 as part of a four-team, 12-player deal that also included the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers.

The blockbuster deal ended Howard's eight-year tenure with the Magic. Howard, who led Orlando to the NBA Finals in 2009, was a six-time All-Star and a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 18.4 points, 13.0 rebounds and 2.16 blocks in 621 games since Orlando selected him with the first overall pick of the 2004 draft.

The Magic fans have seen this script before.

Dominant big man Shaquille O'Neal took his services to the Lakers by way of free agency following the 1995-96 season. Orlando was fresh off an Eastern Conference finals appearance -- getting swept by the Chicago Bulls -- and though playoff appearances still came, the Magic did not win another postseason series until 2008.

In addition to Howard, the Magic sent guard Chris Duhon and forward Earl Clark to the Lakers in exchange for forward Josh McRoberts and swingman Christian Eyenga. Orlando also shipped guard Jason Richardson to Philadelphia for center Nikola Vucevic and first-round draft pick Moe Harkless, while also acquiring guard Arron Afflalo and forward Al Harrington from Denver.

A total of five draft picks over the next five years will also head Orlando's way. The Magic will receive a second-round pick from Denver in 2013, a first- round pick from either Denver or New York in 2014, a conditional first-round pick from Philadelphia and a conditional second-round pick from the Lakers in 2015, and a conditional first-round pick from Los Angeles in 2017.

Stan Van Gundy was fired by the Magic in May, -- it was no secret that Howard wasn't a fan of him -- which led to the hiring of 37-year-old Jacque Vaughn.

Danilo Gallinari had 23 points to lead Denver, which lost its opener to Philadelphia on Wednesday.

A 12-0 run propelled the Magic to an 18-9 lead and the hosts took a 29-18 advantage into the second where its lead grew.

"The first half we weren't very good at either end of the court," Nuggets coach George Karl said.

After Andre Miller's 3-pointer pulled Denver within 47-36, the hosts closed the half on an 11-1 burst.

Davis, who had six points during the surge, capped it with a putback dunk as the Magic's margin swelled to 58-37 heading into the locker room.

Davis and Redick each registered 15 first-half points.

Davis' hook shot gave Orlando its largest lead at 60-37 early in the third, but Denver charged back into the contest following a 15-2 swing which pulled the visitors within 62-52.

Miller's jumper near the end of the frame pulled the Nuggets within 76-68, but Denver never got any closer.

Orlando tallied six of the first eight points in the fourth and took an 86-70 margin before leading by as many as 20.

Game Notes

Turkoglu left the game with a broken left hand ... Andre Iguodala had nine points on 3-of-10 shooting with eight rebounds and five assists in his second game with Denver.