Howard scores 45 as Magic beat Bobcats in overtime

[February 18, 2009]  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Dwight Howard had a career-high 45 points, to go with 19 rebounds and eight blocks, leading the Orlando Magic to a 107-102 overtime victory against the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday night.

The Magic got 17 points from Rashard Lewis, who joined Howard on the Eastern Conference All-Star team last weekend.

It was the 18th consecutive double-double for Howard, tying Shaquille O'Neal's franchise record.

J.J. Redick made a 3-pointer with eight seconds left in regulation to tie it and Raymond Felton missed a jumper as time expired.

Boris Diaw made a layup over Howard with 20 seconds remaining and Raja Bell made two free throws for a 95-92 lead before Redick's tying shot.

The Magic took an early lead in overtime, and never let it go. Redick hit a free throw for the 105-102 lead. Courtney Lee added two more to clinch the victory.

Bell and Gerald Wallace returned to the Charlotte lineup. Wallace had been out since Jan 27 with a partially collapsed lung and a fractured rib and Bell had been out since Feb. 6 with a groin strain.

The Bobcats led through most of the final three periods, opting not to double-team Howard around the basket. It allowed them to limit the rest of the Magic until late in the game.

Notes: Since Howard joined the league in 2004, the Magic are 70-36 in games in which he has three or more blocked shots. They are 133-141 when he has fewer than three blocks. ... Orlando is 3-3 since losing All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson to a potentially season-ending torn labrum muscle in his right shoulder.

[Associated Press]

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