Dwight Howard’s 25 points and 24 rebounds led the Orlando Magic to an impressive 102-89 win against the visiting Miami Heat Wednesday night.
Howard wasted no time filling the stat sheet, by the end of the first quarter the number one All-Star vote getter had a double double (11 points 10 rebounds).
“It’s a great quality win for us, we needed it especially coming off the Clippers loss,” Howard said post game.
Ryan Anderson finished with 27 points connecting on 5 3’s all coming in the first half.
“I felt great, Dwight commands so much attention that it’s just up to me to hit open shots,” Anderson said.
The Magic as a team hit 17 3’s on 40% shooting.
“They shot the ball extremely well, Stan does a great job spreading those guys out allowing them to get good looks,” Lebron James said.
LeBron finished with 17 points and 10 assists but went 0-8 from the field in the second half.
“My shot just didn’t fall in the second half, some jumpers came in rhythm some didn’t. Just have to come out here next game and keep shooting,” he added.
Orlando outscored the Heat 24-11 in the 3rd quarter sparked by a 15-2 run. The Heat shot 22% in the period.
Dwayne Wade scored 22 of his game high 33 in the first half, but sat most of the 3rd as Orlando made it’s run.
A Wade jumper with 6:40 left in the 4th brought the Heat within 74-84 but a Jason Richardson 3 followed by a Ryan Anderson put back iced the game.
“I thought we did a good job of gathering ourselves,” Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said. “We held our composure and nobody seemed the least bit worried. We just kept making plays.”
The Magic (16-10) will host the Atlanta Hawks Friday night, tip off set for 7pm.
