Dwight Howard scored 21 points and grabbed 15
rebounds, and the Orlando Magic resembled the team that won the Eastern
Conference title last year in a 120-106 rout of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Howard went 9-of-11 from the field and grabbed seven offensive rebounds for
the Magic, who advanced to the NBA Finals last season before losing to the
Lakers in five games. Despite the success, Orlando went over a bit of a
makeover in the offseason, adding perennial All-Star Vince Carter, who scored
15 points in the win.
Also coming over with Carter in a trade with New Jersey was forward Ryan
Anderson, who added 16 points and five rebounds. Jason Williams, another new
face, scored 15, and Mickael Pietrus contributed 13 points for Orlando.
Second-year player Marreese Speights led the Sixers with a career-high 26
points on 10-of-11 shooting, and Lou Williams added 18 points in his new role
in the starting lineup.
Philadelphia, which lost in six games to Orlando in the first round of the
playoffs last season, also underwent major changes, installing Eddie Jordan as
its new head coach. Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Elton Brand -- all
expected to be major pieces for the 76ers this season -- each ended with only
eight points.
Pietrus scored 10 points in a back-and-forth first quarter, and Orlando took
the early lead, 29-27.
The Magic dominated the second quarter to take a 23-point lead at halftime.
Jason Williams started the burst with a three-pointer on two consecutive
possessions, lifting Orlando to a 41-32 advantage. Holding a 51-42 lead later
in the quarter, the Magic scored 10 straight points -- five from Carter -- to
take a 19-point lead on Jameer Nelson's jumper with three minutes to go.
As the buzzer sounded, Williams was fouled on a three-point attempt and made
all three ensuing free throws for a 70-47 halftime margin.
Howard scored 13 points in the third quarter, and the Magic increased their
enormous lead to 100-69 heading to the fourth.
The Sixers were able to outscore Orlando's reserves in the fourth quarter and
make it a 14-point game at the conclusion.
Game Notes
To obtain Carter and Anderson, the Magic traded Rafer Alston, Courtney Lee and
Tony Battie to New Jersey...Orlando won last year's season series, 3-0 and now
leads the all-time series, 53-26...Lou Williams was elevated into the starting
lineup for Philadelphia when Andre Miller signed a free-agent contract with
Portland...The Magic traded Hedo Turkoglu to Toronto in the offseason...Jordan
was the head coach of the Wizards prior to this season...Sixers first-round
pick Jrue Holiday was inactive.
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