The AP reports: To the rest of the Eastern Conference playoff field, a note: It’s going to take more than a knock to the head and a fat lip to slow down Dwight Howard. Playing with six stitches in his upper lip after a day after a practice collision with 6-foot-11 reserve Marcin Gortat, Howard had 30 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Magic past the Chicago Bulls 115-83 on Wednesday night. It didn’t affect Howard’s game, but “it is affecting my modeling career,” the All-Star said. “Just for a couple days.” Kirk Hinrich led Chicago with 19 points, while Ben Gordon and Aaron Gray each scored 13. Tyrus Thomas tied a career high with five blocks… Rashard Lewis finished with 21 points and seven rebounds for Orlando, Carlos Arroyo had 13 points and six assists and Hedo Turkoglu had 12 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
Category: Orlando Magic Blog
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Isiah Thomas delivers funny Ewing comments
On Sunday, after the Knicks, playing at home in New York, upset the Orlando Magic, Isiah Thomas was pretty funny in the post-game press conference.
Not during regular game and team discussion, but at the very end of the conference. A reporter asked about Isiah’s memories of playing against Patrick Ewing, a Magic assistant coach and soon-to-be member of the Hall of Fame.
Isiah thought about it, and with a big grin revealed that the prominent thought that comes to mind when reflecting on Ewing’s basketball career is sweat. Reporters were amused.
I was tempted to ask if Isiah ever remembered slipping and falling due to pools of Ewing’s sweat on the floor, but held back.
Apr. 6: Knicks 100, Magic 90
The AP reports: Rookie Wilson Chandler scored a season-high 23 points, Zach Randolph added 20 points and 11 rebounds, and the New York Knicks snapped a five-game losing streak with a 100-90 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday night. Fred Jones and David Lee added 13 points apiece for the Knicks, who won for just the third time in 20 games. The other two victories were against Miami, making this their first win over a team other than the league-worst Heat since beating Charlotte on Feb. 27… Hedo Turkoglu scored 22 points for the Magic, who will now have the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs… Dwight Howard had 13 points and 15 rebounds for his 66th double-double of the season, tops in the NBA and two shy of Shaquille O’Neal’s franchise record set in 1992-93.
Apr. 5: Magic 101, Cavs 86
The AP reports: Hedo Turkoglu scored 23 points, Rashard Lewis added 21 and the Magic, one of this season’s biggest surprises, locked up the Eastern Conference’s No. 3 playoff seed Saturday with a 101-86 win over the staggering Cleveland Cavaliers. The Magic, who have sat behind Boston and Detroit in the standings for much of the season, won despite getting only four points on 1-of-8 shooting from All-Star center Dwight Howard—17 below his average. Orlando’s defense, though, was the difference… Howard had 12 rebounds, Jameer Nelson had 16 points and 9 assists and reserve Pat Garrity had 13 points for the Magic (48-28), who won 40 games last season and are now two victories from their first 50-win season since 1995-96— when they lost in the conference finals… Delonte West scored 19 points and Zydrunas Ilgauskas 18 for Cleveland, which has dropped five of seven and is staggering toward the regular-season finish line.
Apr. 1: Hornets 98, Magic 97
The AP reports: Peja Stojakovic scored six points in the final minute—a clutch 3-pointer and three free throws—to lift New Orleans past the Orlando Magic 98-97, giving the Hornets their franchise-record 24th road win… Chris Paul had 19 points and 12 assists for the Hornets, Morris Peterson scored 19 points and David West had 18 points and 11 rebounds… Hedo Turkoglu had 26 points, seven assists and five rebounds for Orlando. Rashard Lewis added 24 points and Dwight Howard had 17 points and 15 rebounds… Orlando point guard Jameer Nelson missed his second straight game with a bruised jaw, and forward Brian Cook was out after breaking a finger Monday in practice.
Mar. 28: Magic 103, Bucks 86
The AP reports: Dwight Howard had 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Orlando Magic to their franchise-record 24th road victory with a 103-86 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night. Rashard Lewis added 16 points and seven rebounds, and Carlos Arroyo had 13 points and nine assists for the Magic, who improved to 24-13 on the road. The team was 15-26 last season. Mo Williams finished with 18 points and five assists for Milwaukee, which lost its third straight game and ninth in 10 games. Michael Redd was just 3-for-16 from the field and had seven points. The Bucks shot 34 percent for the game.
Mar. 25: Spurs 107, Magic 97
The AP reports: Manu Ginobili scored 28 points and Michael Finley added 24 as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Orlando Magic 107-97 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight win. Dwight Howard had 24 points and 21 rebounds, his eighth game this season with at least 20 in both categories. Rashard Lewis added 24, Keyon Dooling 19 and Carlos Arroyo 17. Tim Duncan had 19 points and 15 rebounds for San Antonio. Orlando was short-handed after losing starters Hedo Turkoglu and Jameer Nelson in the first half. Nelson left with a bruised jaw after apparently running into Howard, while Turkoglu sprained his right wrist.
Dwight Howard in rare territory
Orlando’s Dwight Howard is averaging 21.6 points, 14.4 rebounds and is shooting .603 from the field. Only four players have finished a season averaging at least 20.0 ppg., 10.0 rpg., while shooting .600 from the field: Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia, 1966-67; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, L.A. Lakers, 1979-80; Charles Barkley, Philadelphia, 1989-90; and Shaquille O’Neal, Miami, 2004-05.
Fan says he gave Shaq ride in Honda Prelude
A random fan posting on message boards claims he gave Shaquille O’Neal a ride in a parking lot to where Shaq’s car was parked. And he has the photos to back up his story.
Check it out here.
LeBron wins All-Star game MVP as East beats West 134-128
Final score: East 134, West 128. Fun game!
The East’s LeBron James was awarded the 2008 NBA All-Star game MVP award.
For the East: Ray Allen (10-of-14, 5-of-9 threes) had 28 points in just 19 minutes. LeBron James (12-of-22) had 27 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists (4 turnovers), 2 steals and 2 blocks. Dwight Howard (7-of-7) had 16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Chris Bosh (7-of-15) had 14 points and 7 rebounds. Dwyane Wade (7-of-12) had 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Paul Pierce scored 10. Jason Kidd dished 10 assists.
For the West: Brandon Roy (8-of-10) had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Carmelo Anthony (8-of-17) had 18 points and 7 rebounds. Amare Stoudemire (8-of-11) had 18 points and 5 rebounds. Chris Paul (7-of-14) had 16 points, 3 rebounds, 14 assists (just 2 turnovers) and 4 steals. Carlos Boozer (7-of-15) had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Dirk Nowitzki (just 5-of-14) had 13 points and 4 rebounds.
The best East players were LeBron, Dwight Howard and Ray Allen. The best West players were Chris Paul and Brandon Roy.
Read unedited 2008 NBA All-Star game notes taken live as the action happened.