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Turkoglu, Lewis help Magic surge past Blazers

Nov 27, 2007 - 6:46 AM PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis helped the Orlando Magic continue their hot start to the season on Monday.

With Dwight Howard in foul trouble for most of the game, Turkoglu scored 21 points and Lewis added 20 as the Magic used a huge second-half run to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers, 85-74, at the Rose Garden.

"I thought we played much better in the second half," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We only turned the ball over five times. I told our guys afterward that that's a good step for our team.

"You have to be a good team to win on a tough night. So, that's one of our better wins on that regard."

Howard did not record a double-double for just the third time this season with nine points and 14 rebounds for the Magic, who have won eight of their last nine games and moved to 8-1 on the road this season.

After Howard picked up his fourth foul at the 3:59 mark of the third with Portland leading by five points, the Magic went on a decisive run to take control of the game.

Portland scored the next basket to push its lead to seven, but the Magic answered with a 29-8 run - all with Howard on the bench - bridging the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarter.

"That run was big and that was with the bench guys for the most part," Lewis said. "It lets you know that we have a total team, and that's nice to know that other guys can get it done for us. That's had a lot to do with our success on the road this season and overall for that matter."

Orlando ended the third on a 10-2 run - including the last five from Lewis - to take a 59-58 lead entering the fourth. Keith Bogans and Lewis combined for 11 points on a 19-6 surge to start the fourth, giving the Magic a 78-64 cushion with 5:41 to play.

"We didn't start real good in the first half but we kept our composure and we took our time and waited (until) we had a good run," Turkoglu said. "Anytime you don't play your best and your able to get away with a win, especially on the road, it's a big win."

Travis Outlaw's baseline jumper capped a 8-0 run and gave the Blazers a 27-15 lead late in the first quarter.

Portland built its lead up to as many as 13 in the second, but Orlando came charging back with a 16-0 run to take a 38-35 lead with 3:37 left in the first half.

"I thought we played very poorly in the first fifteen minutes," Van Gundy said. "A lot of it was them, but we didn't move the ball effectively, and that's why we struggled."

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 14 points to lead the Blazers, who have lost six of their last seven. Brandon Roy added 12 points but shot just 4-of-18 from the floor.

Portland, which shot just 29 percent (19-of-66) over the final three quarters, also had its lowest point total of the year, failing to break 80 for the first time in its last 20 games.

"I think our offense went bad tonight, and Orlando took advantage of that," Roy said. "We have to do a better job of not letting our offense dictate our games. We can still win with defense, let our defense create some offense."