Orlando Magic Blog – Page 52 – NBA Blog

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.

Dwight Howard suspended one game for 16th technical foul of season

The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard has received a one-game suspension without pay for receiving his 16th technical foul of the 2010-11 season, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Howard received his most recent technical foul with 1:41 remaining in the second quarter of Orlando’s 89-81 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday, March 4, at Amway Center. Howard will serve his suspension Monday, March 7 when the Magic face the Portland Trailblazers at Amway Center.

Read fan reaction or share your own opinion in this forum topic.

Dwight Howard says Magic can definitely win a championship

The goal of just about every player in the NBA is to win a championship. Dwight Howard has flirted with achieving that goal, but his Orlando Magic aren’t quite as potent as they once were. Still, the team is good, and winning a title is a tough yet still realistic goal.

Dwight Howard, writing on his own website, says:

I´ve said it a hundred times and I´ll keep saying it – we have what it takes to win a championship on this Magic team. I know a lot of teams out there have made trades, especially the Knicks getting ‘Melo, but I like our team just the way that it is. We have all the pieces needed to win a championship this year and I feel like we´re just now hitting our peak at the right time. Maybe we´ll be like the Packers and get hot at the right time and roll through the playoffs the way that they did.

We just have to bring this same kind of focus and intensity every game. New York tried to get all physical with us, but we didn´t back down an inch and I really liked that about us. When we play tough and physical like that and keep our heads in the game, we´re a really tough team to beat.

It was cool hearing the crowd chant M-V-P! for me last night during the game. It´s come and gone a few times during the year, but it was really strong last night. Feeling that love from the crowd is special to me and it never gets old. Although my teammates mess with me and say that I miss my free throws every time the crowd does the M-V-P chants.

Right now, the Celtics and Heat are the favorites to come out of the East, followed by the Bulls and Magic.

Dwight Howard says Orlando is the most attracive place for him

Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports:

Dwight Howard says Orlando is the place for him

Dwight Howard better get used to more days like Tuesday.

The Record newspaper, which is based in Bergen County, N.J., reported that New Jersey Nets Principal Owner Mikhail Prokhorov and General Manager Billy King recently spoke with point guard Deron Williams and told Williams that Dwight Howard tops the list of free agents the Nets plan to pursue.

Understandably, a group of writers from New York area news outlets asked Howard before the Magic’s game against the New York Knicks if the Nets are any more “attractive” now with Williams.

“Orlando’s the most attractive place for me right now,” Howard answered, a smile on his face. “They have a sexy new arena, a beautiful franchise, nice banners around here and been in the top four in the Eastern Conference for the past four years. Yes, Orlando’s the most attractive place right now.”