Magic Win League Best 14th Game
SEATTLE(AP) Dwight Howard dunked, blocked and dominated Seattle's undersized frontline for a career-high 39 points and 16 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic beat the SuperSonics 110-94 on Wednesday night for their NBA-best 14th win.
No matter the combination Seattle used to try and stymie Howard, it didn't work. The powerful center made 12 of 17 shots, including nine dunks, and found his way to the free-throw line 20 times, making 15.
He had 30 points and 13 rebounds by the end of the third quarter, and recorded his 14th double-double of the season.
Orlando's Rashard Lewis struggled in his return to the city where he played nine seasons and grew from a skinny teenager into an All-Star. He cashed in on a huge contract with the Magic last offseason.
Lewis finished with nine points and missed 16 shots, but his offense wasn't needed. Hedo Turkoglu scored 15 and Keith Bogans added 14 points, including three 3-pointers in the final 4 minutes as Orlando fended off a Seattle challenge.
Seattle lost its sixth straight and remained the only winless team at home in the NBA. The Sonics' 2-14 start matches the worst in franchise history. They began their inaugural 1967-68 season 2-14 under Al Bianchi. Seattle has lost 11 straight at home dating back to last year.
Kevin Durant scored 22 for Seattle and Wally Szczerbiak added 20 off the bench. But the pair combined to make just 12 of 41 shots.
Lewis was concerned about the reception he would receive, knowing how Seattle fans turned on Alex Rodriguez when the MVP left for his 10-year, $252 million contract with Texas in 2000.
He didn't need to fret.
Lewis received a warm ovation during pregame introductions, some in the sparse crowd standing to applaud as he jogged onto the court. He struggled initially, missing his first three shots, before knocking down a 3-pointer midway through the first quarter.
But Lewis was simply a complement to Howard. Without anyone able to match Howard's bulk on the interior, the 6-foot-11, 21-year-old either powered over or through Seattle's defense.
No Seattle defender had any success slowing Howard, whether it was veteran Kurt Thomas, or youngsters Johan Petro and Mouhamed Sene. Seattle even tried Durant's long arms and skinny frame to deny Howard the ball.
Howard topped his previous career-high of 35 points and added five blocks. Carlos Arroyo had a career-high 14 assists and J.J. Redick had 11 points, his first points of the season.
For much of the night, Seattle looked very much like a tired, lethargic squad that arrived back in Seattle at 2 a.m. Wednesday morning following a seven-point loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
The Sonics continually settled for outside shots, showing little desire to move the ball on offense or keep Howard away from the basket on defense.
In the fourth quarter, Seattle started attacking the basket and suddenly pulled to 93-92 on a pair of Szczerbiak free throws with 4:35 left.
But three Orlando free throws and a 3-pointer by Bogans pushed the lead back to seven with 3:50 left. Seattle got no closer than five.
Notes: Seattle F Nick Collison missed Wednesday game after breaking his nose on Tuesday night against the Lakers. He will sit out the Sonics' next two games and be re-evaluated early next week. ... Redick had played just 20 total minutes in five games, but played nearly 17 minutes against Seattle, making 4 of 5 shots.
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