Orlando Magic Blog – Page 52 – NBA Blog

D-Howard scores 33, Magic beat Hawks 88-82 in Game 2

The AP reports:

Dwight Howard had 33 points and 19 rebounds, Jameer Nelson added 13 points and eight rebounds to help the Magic hold off the Hawks 88-82.

The Magic evened the best-of-seven series, with Game 3 Friday night in Atlanta.

Orlando used a 10-1 run to close the third quarter to take an 11-point lead into the fourth and fought off a late Atlanta charge down the stretch. The Magic struggled from the field shooting just 34 percent and had 16 turnovers. But they defended well…

Jamal Crawford led Atlanta with 25 points and Josh Smith added 17, but they missed 15 shots between them and expended a lot more energy to get off attempts…

Orlando led 48-42 at halftime. The Hawks led by as many as 10 in the second quarter, 32-22, before a 12-2 run by the Magic tied it at 34-all. Howard had 10 points during the spurt, which included the Magic doing their best job of the series converting defensive stops into quick offense.

Magic Look to Even Series 1-1

By Scott Spangler

They are launching grenades in Orlando. At the half, both teams hitting south of 40 percent. The Magic lead by six and need to build on a second-quarter outburst, which saw them outscore the Hawks 32-20.

A loss would put Orlando in dire straits heading to Georgia. Teams carrying a 2-0 lead end up advancing at a 94 percent clip.

Once again tonight, just about the only thing working for Stan Van Gundy is the play of Dwight Howard, fresh off his record-setting third consecutive Defensive Player of The Year Award. So far in this one, Howard has racked up 25 pts and 13 boards with about 6 minutes left in the third.

Despite shooting only 37 percent thus far, Atlanta is 6 of 15 from 3-point range. Add to that, the Hawks have only gone to the foul line seven times, converting four. Have I mentioned the massive (38-21) rebounding deficit? Well, there’s that, too.

The Magic are now up 55-48, about 5 minutes to go, third quarter.

Magic center Dwight Howard wins 2010-11 Defensive Player of Year

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic is the recipient of the 2010-11 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, the NBA announced today. Howard becomes the first player to earn the honor three straight seasons; only Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace, with four each, have won the award more times.

The 6-11 center led the league with 66 double-doubles, including six 20-point/20-rebound efforts, while ranking second in rebounds (14.1 rpg) and fourth in blocks (2.38 bpg). With Howard manning the middle, the Magic allowed 93.5 ppg, ranking fourth in that category.

Second in the voting was Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett. Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler was third, Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen was fourth, and Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo was fifth.

Dwight Howard scores 46 but Hawks beat Magic in Game 1, 103-93

The AP reports:

Joe Johnson scored 25 points, Jamal Crawford finished with 23 and Atlanta beat Orlando 103-93 in Game 1 of their playoff series on Saturday, overcoming a monster night by Dwight Howard.

Atlanta was eliminated by Orlando in last year’s playoffs in the most lopsided four-game sweep in NBA history, but this one was much different. The Hawks led by as many as 18 points while running multiple bodies at Howard all night, and the rest of the Magic failed to step up…

Howard tied a career high with 46 points, to go along with 19 rebounds. Jameer Nelson had 27 points but no other Orlando player reached double figures.

The Hawks had five players with at least 13 points, earning their fourth straight victory against the Magic and erasing the sting of a six-game losing streak to close the regular season. Al Horford scored 16, Josh Smith had 15 points and eight rebounds and Kirk Hinrich added 13 points.

2011 NBA Playoffs first round schedule

The 2010-11 NBA regular season is in the books, with all 30 teams in action Wednesday night. The NBA playoffs begin Saturday.

The first round matchups in the East are: Bulls vs Pacers, Heat vs 76ers, Celtics vs Knicks, and Magic vs Hawks.

The West’s first round matchups are: Spurs vs Grizzlies, Lakers vs Hornets, Mavericks vs Blazers, and Thunder vs Nuggets.

The complete first round series-by-series NBA playoffs schedule is here.

Quentin Richardson suspended two games for shoving Gerald Henderson

Quentin Richardson of the Orlando Magic has been suspended two games without pay for shoving Gerald Henderson of the Charlotte Bobcats in the face, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 8:30 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Magic’s 111-102 victory over the Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena on April 6. Richardson will serve his suspension on Sunday, April 10 when the Magic host the Chicago Bulls at Amway Center, and on Monday, April 11 when the Magic play the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center.

InsideHoops.com editor says: I think Q-Rich thought Gerald Henderson’s face was late in getting somewhere and he was merely trying to help out. OK, kidding. But seriously, a two-game suspension makes it seem like the NBA is treating Q-Rich’s face-shove of Henderson as something close to a punch, which is understandable. An aggressive face-shove is definitely worse than your average push and less than a punch, but still, the league wanted to make a clear statement not to act that way.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Dwight Howard suspended one game after 18th technical foul

The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard has received a one-game suspension without pay for receiving his 18th technical foul of the 2010-11 season, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Under NBA rules, a player or coach is automatically suspended without pay for one game once he receives his 16th technical foul during a regular season. For every two additional technical fouls received during that regular season, the player or coach will be automatically suspended for an additional game.

Howard received his most recent technical foul with 3:38 remaining in the second quarter of Orlando’s 111-102 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday, April 6, at Time Warner Cable Arena. Howard will serve his suspension Sunday, April 10 when the Magic host the Chicago Bulls at Amway Center.

InsideHoops.com editor says: I think it’s a stupid rule. Now fans watching Magic vs Bulls don’t get to see D-Howard. They’re the ones hurt.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Dwight Howard would love to host Saturday Night Live

Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports:

Dwight Howard wants to host Saturday Night Live

Dwight Howard would love to host an episode of “Saturday Night Live” one day.

But there have been plenty impediments.

Of course, the biggest hurdle is that SNL’s producers usually prefer to book Hollywood stars and famous musicians as hosts.

Another obstacle is that Howard’s playing schedule is too rigid and “SNL” needs its hosts in place for almost an entire week.

But a lockout would free up Howard’s schedule and make an “SNL” gig a remote possibility, an upgrade from no possibility at all.

Howard’s successful recent guest spots on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” may have enhanced his chances.

J.J. Redick has no return date set for return from ab muscle strain

Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports (via blog):

J.J. Redick said he expects to play for the Orlando Magic in the playoffs, but the injured guard still doesn’t know when he’ll return to the court from a strained muscle in his lower abdomen.

Redick has rejoined the team after spending several days rehabbing the muscle in Vancouver, B.C., performing strengthening exercises that he hopes will protect the area from future injuries and help get the injured muscle firing correctly.

“The muscle still has to heal and it hasn’t healed,” Redick said Sunday afternoon. “Until that happens, I’m putting that area in a compromising position.”

Jameer Nelson buzzer-beater helps Magic top Nuggets

The AP reports:

Jameer Nelson

38.5% 3FG

Jameer Nelson swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key at the buzzer to give the Orlando Magic a dramatic 85-82 win over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.

The Magic led most of the final period, but struggled at the line and let the Nuggets tie the game with 5.7 seconds to play.

Dwight Howard led five Magic players in double figures with 16 points and 18 rebounds. Hedo Turkoglu had 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, while Nelson, Brandon Bass and Jason Richardson all added 13 points.

Wilson Chandler scored 20 points, Danilo Gallinari added 17 and Nene 14 for the Nuggets, who had a four-game winning streak snapped and lost for the 17th time in their last 18 trips to Orlando.