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Dooling scores career high as Magic top Nuggets

Nov 16, 2006 - 3:16 AM ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- After J.R. Smith cooled down, Keyon Dooling heated up.

Dooling scored a career-high 25 points and Hedo Turkoglu added 18 as the Orlando Magic posted their 14th consecutive win over the Denver Nuggets at home, 108-99.

Grant Hill added 15 points for the Magic, who shot 50 percent (34-of-68) from the field to pick up their fifth win in six games.

Orlando was able to continue its winning ways despite committing 26 turnovers.

"I don't want it to be who we are," Hill said. "I like the first part of shooting a good percentage and I think we will shoot a good percentage; we (are) just too careless with the basketball at times. We try to make plays that aren't there or we try to make home run plays rather than simple plays."

Smith nailed a 3-pointer - his fourth of the game - to cap a 10-2 run to cut the Nuggets' deficit to 98-96 with 2:49 remaining. However, the third-year guard made a critical mistake down the stretch.

Before a jump ball with Trevor Ariza, Smith thought he was fouled while going for a loose ball and picked up a technical with just over a minute remaining.

"I guess the referee figured I threw the ball down in frustration or what not and decided to call a technical," Smith said.

On the ensuing jump, the disgruntled Smith did not jump, allowing the ball to be tipped to Dooling for a transition layup as Orlando took a 104-97 lead with 67 seconds left.

"It was just a great play with Trevor. That was all him," Orlando coach Brian Hill said. "He recognized the situation, you had the length of (J.R.) Smith. He made a great read, and it was a great play at that time of the game (with Dooling's basket coming at an opportune time)."

Dooling shot 8-of-14 from the floor, including five 3-pointers. Turkoglu was 6-of-14 and made 4-of-7 on 3-pointers for the Magic, who shot 10-of-16 from the arc.

"It seems like people find you (for the open shot) when (shots) are going down," Dooling said. "After having a bad road trip, I was focused and just trying to have a good game. I was going out swinging, one way or another."

Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points for the Nuggets, who shot 43 percent (32-of-75) and were outrebounded, 43-36.

Anthony, who entered the game fourth in the NBA in scoring at 29.4 points per game, scored at least 30 in each game on the Nuggets' 3-1 road trip.

However, Orlando continued to be Denver's nemesis.

"I haven't won here in Orlando even since AAU ball," Anthony said. "I can't wait to get home and get up out of here in Orlando. I can't take it here in Orlando. I haven't won here yet."