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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 10:19 a.m., Sunday, April 20, 2008

NBA: Howard has big game as Magic beat Raptors, 114-100

By TRAVIS REED
Associated Press Writer

ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard had 25 points and 22 rebounds, and Jameer Nelson scored 24 points, and the Orlando Magic defeated the Toronto Raptors 114-100 today in the opener of their first-round series.

Howard scored six straight points in a 10-0 fourth-quarter run that sealed Orlando's first playoff win since 2003. He also blocked five shots and made 9-of-11 free throws.

Anthony Parker had 24 points and 8 rebounds for Toronto, Chris Bosh scored 21 and Rasho Nesterovic had 16 points and 8 rebounds. Jason Kapono scored 18 off the bench.

The Raptors, who trailed by 20 points after the first quarter, drew within five with 10:24 left in the fourth on two quick 3-pointers by Kapono and a Parker jumper. But Toronto went scoreless for the next 3:16 as Orlando pulled away.

The Magic held Bosh mostly in check. Smothered by Rashard Lewis inside the paint and out, the All-Star power forward started 1-of-6 from the field and scored 13 of his 21 points from the free throw line (13-of-13). Bosh picked up four fouls in the third quarter _ two of them within 20 seconds of one another during tussles with Howard _ and played limited minutes in the fourth.

All five Orlando starters scored in double figures. Hedo Turkoglu scored 21, Maurice Evans had 14 and Lewis added 13. Reserve Keyon Dooling scored 10, and Nelson had seven assists.

Orlando looked unbeatable at the start, hitting its first seven shots and making 9-of-11 3-pointers in the first quarter. Evans scored 11 in the period and Lewis had 10 as Orlando opened a 43-23 lead.

The 43 points were third highest in a first quarter for the playoffs, and Orlando's nine 3-pointers tied Boston's record for most in a playoff quarter. Howard blocked three shots in the period and altered several others.

Orlando led by as many as 24 in the first half before Toronto recovered to close the second quarter with a 14-3 run to draw to 60-47 at halftime. Nesterovic scored four in the span and Kapono had eight points _ including two 3-pointers _ as the Magic went scoreless in the quarter's last 4 minutes.

The Magic shot 53 percent in the game, including 13-of-29 from 3-point range, compared with 38 percent and 9-of-20 for Toronto.