• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Howard dominates as Magic rout Bobcats

Nov 24, 2007 - 4:46 AM ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- Like most of the league, the Charlotte Bobcats had no answer for Dwight Howard.

Howard scored 34 points and grabbed 17 rebounds and Hedo Turkoglu added 16 points as the Orlando Magic cruised to a 105-92 victory over the Bobcats on Friday.

Jameer Nelson added 14 points and six assists for the Magic, who have won five of the last six meetings against the Bobcats here.

"I have to keep playing, stay aggressive and never show any sign of weakness," said Howard, who in 13 games against the Bobcats is averaging 18.5 points and 14.8 rebounds.

The first overall pick in 2004, Howard battled with that year's second overall selection, Emeka Okafor, and came out on top. The 21-year-old hit 11-of-14 from the floor and added four blocks, while converting 12-of-21 from the line.

Coming off a dominating performance in which he scored 34 points and pulled down 16 rebounds in a 128-110 loss to Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, Howard was nearly unstoppable in this one.

"He's been doing that to almost everyone," said Bobcats coach Sam Vincent. "He's done it on other teams as effectively as he did it on us. He's just a force in the post.

"You front him, they lob over the top. You play behind him, he's so strong he powers you to the rim. He's a tough matchup."

The four-year veteran scored six points during a 9-0 run to close the first quarter, and scored 10 of the Magic's final 16 points in the second to lead Orlando to a 55-44 halftime lead. He finished the first half with eight field goals, all dunks.

Howard continued his dominance to start the third period as he scored 10 points during a 13-2 run that stretched the lead to 68-46 with 7:13 left.

"The first six minutes of the second half were outstanding," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We came out of the locker room, great energy, great effort, great intensity and played well."

Thanks to Howard, Orlando shot 47 percent (38-of-80) from the floor and never trailed, leading by as many as 21 late in the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, Okafor scored 12 points and grabbed a season-high 18 rebounds for Charlotte, which lost forward Gerald Wallace to a strained calf in the first half.

Wallace scored four points on 2-of-4 shooting before leaving in the second quarter and did not return.

"I was going to the basket to make that layup and I kind of felt my knee pop," Wallace said regarding the injury. "I will take a MRI (Saturday) and, if everything looks good and nothing is torn or anything, then I'll played (Saturday night)."

Jason Richardson had 14 points and seven boards for the Bobcats, who went on a 7-0 run late in the fourth to pull within 99-85 but could get no closer.