Howard's Huge Double-Double Lifts Magic

By JANIE McCAULEY
The Associated Press
Thursday, January 11, 2007; 1:30 AM

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Dwight Howard had a career-high 30 points and a season-high 25 rebounds and the Orlando Magic won their fifth straight game, 91-76 over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night to snap a four-game road losing streak.

Keyon Dooling had two key 3-pointers during a 15-3 fourth-quarter run, including one with 9:06 left that gave the Magic a 73-61 lead in the opener of their four-game, seven-day road trip against the West. Dooling scored 11 of his 13 points in the final period and Keith Bogans added 16 points off the bench.


Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard drives against Golden State Warriors' Adonal Foyle during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/George Nikitin)
Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard drives against Golden State Warriors' Adonal Foyle during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/George Nikitin) (George Nikitin - AP)

Baron Davis had 13 points and eight assists but committed six turnovers after scoring a season-high 38 in the first meeting with the Magic on Dec. 22.

Howard, the league's top rebounder at 12.5 coming into the game, posted his fourth game this season with at least 20 points and 20 boards. He shot 11-for-18 and Orlando hit 40.5 percent of its shots to win for the 10th time in the last 15 meetings in the series.

But the Magic lost forward Trevor Ariza 46.8 seconds before halftime with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. His status for Friday's game in Los Angeles against the Lakers wasn't immediately known.

Ariza, a third-year pro, scored five points, leaving him two away from reaching 1,000 for his career.

Andris Biedrins grabbed 15 rebounds for the Warriors and Monta Ellis had 14 points and four assists.

Orlando used a 13-6 spurt to start the third quarter and take the lead after trailing 47-42 at halftime, and limited the Warriors to a season-low 10 points in the period. It was the 28th time this season the Magic have kept an opponent below 100 points. Golden State was held to a season-low in points.

The Warriors returned home after sloppy performance Sunday in Phoenix, a 128-105 loss to the Suns in which Golden State committed 25 turnovers. The Warriors had 19 more Wednesday, facing a Magic squad that leads the NBA in turnovers, and lost for the third time in four games.

They shot 50 percent in the first period but trailed 24-18 after the opening quarter in large part because of 10 turnovers. The Magic shot only 9-for-24 in the period.

Golden State will have to be better Friday, when the Warriors host the defending NBA champion Miami Heat.

Adonal Foyle, whose role has greatly diminished under new coach Don Nelson, played 17 minutes but had no points and only three rebounds to go with two assists, two blocks and a steal. Nelson said before the game he liked how Foyle played against the Magic the last time and wanted to give him another opportunity.

Notes:@ Grant Hill played in his 600th career game. ... Warriors G Jason Richardson missed his fifth straight game with a broken bone in his right hand. He ... The Warriors have won seven of the last 12 with the Magic in Oakland. ... Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Dan Haren attended the game. ... Nelson wants his team to do a better job penetrating and drawing fouls. Golden State went to the free-throw line 27 times, to 33 for Orlando. ... The Warriors' previous scoring low was 82 points Nov. 4 at Utah.


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