Dwight Howard's 20-20 game helps Magic top Raptors in opener

[April 21, 2008]  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- 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 four 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.

Notes: Howard had an NBA-leading 69 double-doubles during the regular season, including eight games with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds. ... Game two is Tuesday. ... The Magic turned the arena white and blue by giving fans T-shirts. It was the first time Orlando hosted a playoff series opener since 1999. ... Masters champion Trevor Immelman watched from courtside.

[Associated Press; By TRAVIS REED]

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