Orlando, FL (Betting Express) - Dwight Howard filled the statsheet yet again,
posting 21 points, nine rebounds and five blocks as the Orlando Magic took a
hard-fought 104-99 victory from the Utah Jazz.
J.J. Redick added 20 points while Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis chipped in 18
points apiece for the Magic, who moved to 2-0 on a five-game homestand. They
have won four of their last five games.
Jameer Nelson returned from knee surgery to play in his first game since
November 16, going scoreless in 14 minutes off the bench.
Deron Williams had 18 points and 12 assists and Paul Millsap totaled a team-
high 20 points for the Jazz, who fell to 2-2 on a five-game road trip.
Carlos Boozer scored 17, Andrei Kirilenko 14 and C.J. Miles 13 in the setback.
The Magic entered the fourth quarter with a two-point edge and ran it to 75-70
on a Mickael Pietrus three-ball in the first minute. Three straight Jazz field
goals, the last a Millsap layup, gave Utah the lead. Moments later Mehmet Okur
and Kirilenko sank consecutive long-distance shots for an 84-79 edge.
Lewis answered with a trey to spark a 13-2 run that ended on a triple each
from Lewis and Redick for a 92-86 Orlando lead with 4:39 to play.
Kirilenko responded in turn with a three and hit another about a minute later
to bring Utah back within a bucket, at 96-94, with 2 1/2 minutes remaining.
Orlando made it a two-possession game on a pair of free throws from Carter.
Kirilenko missed on a three-pointer and Howard blocked Boozer's attempt at a
layup on Utah's next trip up the floor to hold the four-point edge.
Utah chucked up two more threes with the clock winding under a minute left,
but Okur and Williams both missed the mark. Redick sank two at the line with
26.6 seconds to go for a 100-94 margin.
Kirilenko was sent to the line and made both to get it back to a four-point
game, but a fastbreak bucket from Howard and a Williams turnover sealed the
Magic win.
Orlando took a 19-18 lead at the close of the first quarter on a Carter three-
pointer. Back-to-back threes by Redick and Lewis just past the halfway point
of the second had the Magic in front 34-28 and sparked an 11-0 run.
Williams dropped in a hook shot for Utah to stop the bleeding and start a 10-0
Jazz run. The score was knotted at 40 entering the third, which was back-and-
forth. Orlando had a 70-68 edge moving to the fourth.
Game Notes
Orlando, which is an impressive 11-2 at home this season, will finish its
homestand with games against Houston, Boston and Milwaukee...Utah, which is
5-8 as the visitor, finishes its trek in Miami on Wednesday...The Magic were
sent to the line for 41 free throw attempts, making 31...Utah was 20-of-27
from the charity stripe...Orlando hit 9-of-21 three-point shots while the Jazz
sank 7-of-18...The Jazz snapped a two-game skid to the Magic with a 120-111
triumph in Salt Lake City on December 10 and were hoping for a sweep of the
season series on Monday...Nelson tore the meniscus in his left knee and missed
Orlando's 16 previous games.
