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'Superman' works the Magic to cut down Lakers
Source: Agencies |
February 15, 2011, Tuesday
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THE Orlando Magic humbled the defending National Basketball Association champions Los Angeles Lakers with an 89-75 triumph on Sunday for their first victory against a team with a winning record in over a month.
Dwight Howard dominated with 31 points and 13 rebounds for the Magic (35-21), who held Kobe Bryant and the Lakers to a season-low 75 points. "The way we played tonight is the way we have to play if we want to be considered a great team," Howard, the NBA's two-time defending Defensive Player of the Year, told reporters.
"If we continue to do that, there's no doubt in my mind we have what it takes to win a championship."
Since overhauling the team with a multi-player trade in December, Orlando has not been able to reestablish the form that led to deep playoff runs in the past two seasons.
But Sunday's win, Orlando's first triumph over a team with a winning record since beating the Dallas Mavericks on January 8, appeared to be a step in the right direction.
The Lakers (38-17) entered the game on a roll, having won the first four contests of a seven-game road trip, but their offense sputtered.
Despite 17 points each from Bryant and Andrew Bynum, the visitors shot a mere 39 percent and made only two of their 16 3-point attempts. "We had good looks. I can only think of one (3-pointer) that was rushed, or was a bad shot," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson.
Elsewhere, it was: Wizards 115, Cavaliers 100; Celtics 85, Heat 82; Grizzlies 116, Nuggets 108; Raptors 98, Clippers 93; Trail Blazers 105, Pistons 100; Kings 113, Suns 108; and Warriors 100, Thunder 94.
In Orlando, Florida, after controlling the game most of the way, the Magic led by six points early in the fourth before a 10-2 run pushed their advantage to 81-67 with about six minutes remaining.
Lamar Odom added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers while the Magic got 12 points from Jason Richardson.
Dwight Howard dominated with 31 points and 13 rebounds for the Magic (35-21), who held Kobe Bryant and the Lakers to a season-low 75 points. "The way we played tonight is the way we have to play if we want to be considered a great team," Howard, the NBA's two-time defending Defensive Player of the Year, told reporters.
"If we continue to do that, there's no doubt in my mind we have what it takes to win a championship."
Since overhauling the team with a multi-player trade in December, Orlando has not been able to reestablish the form that led to deep playoff runs in the past two seasons.
But Sunday's win, Orlando's first triumph over a team with a winning record since beating the Dallas Mavericks on January 8, appeared to be a step in the right direction.
The Lakers (38-17) entered the game on a roll, having won the first four contests of a seven-game road trip, but their offense sputtered.
Despite 17 points each from Bryant and Andrew Bynum, the visitors shot a mere 39 percent and made only two of their 16 3-point attempts. "We had good looks. I can only think of one (3-pointer) that was rushed, or was a bad shot," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson.
Elsewhere, it was: Wizards 115, Cavaliers 100; Celtics 85, Heat 82; Grizzlies 116, Nuggets 108; Raptors 98, Clippers 93; Trail Blazers 105, Pistons 100; Kings 113, Suns 108; and Warriors 100, Thunder 94.
In Orlando, Florida, after controlling the game most of the way, the Magic led by six points early in the fourth before a 10-2 run pushed their advantage to 81-67 with about six minutes remaining.
Lamar Odom added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers while the Magic got 12 points from Jason Richardson.
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