Final
Magic try to win another one without Howard
Dec 15, 2008 - 2:55 PM Orlando (18-6) at Golden State (7-17), 10:30pm ESTOAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Orlando Magic have already won one game without their All-NBA center. On Monday night, they might have to do it again.
All-Star center Dwight Howard missed the first game of his NBA career on Saturday night, but that didn't stop the Magic from continuing their prowess away from home as they toppled the Utah Jazz thanks to a barrage of second-half 3-pointers. On Monday, they close out their five-game, Western Conference road trip against the struggling Golden State Warriors.
Howard left Thursday's loss to the Phoenix Suns early in the third quarter with a sprained left knee and was inactive on Friday. Sharpshooting forwards Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu helped pick up the slack, combining for 50 points and six 3-pointers as Orlando outlasted the Jazz.
That kind of performance was nothing new for the Magic. For the second season in a row, they have dominated on the road, compiling an impressive 9-3 mark so far. They have also knocked down 223 3-pointers this season - second-most in the league.
The Warriors, meanwhile, have fallen on hard times after posting 90 combined wins over the last two seasons. Losers of 11 of their last 13, they are yielding a league-worst 111.6 points per game. Granted, the all-offense, no-defense approach has worked for head coach Don Nelson in the past, but this campaign the rest of the league seems to have caught up with Golden State.
The team is still searching for a floor general after Baron Davis departed this summer and rising star Monta Ellis was injured in a moped accident after signing a long-term extension. Jamal Crawford - acquired last month in a trade with the New York Knicks - has provided a scoring touch since coming on board, but ultimately hasn't been the answer.
- NBA
ORLANDO 109
GOLDEN STATE 98 FINAL
Dec 16 12:45 AM - NBA
ORLANDO 77
GOLDEN STATE 67 END, 3RD QTR
Dec 16 12:15 AM - NBA
ORLANDO 46
GOLDEN STATE 40 HALFTIME
Dec 15 11:33 PM - NBA
ORLANDO 21
GOLDEN STATE 20 END, 1ST QTR
Dec 15 11:02 PM
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