Turkoglu's Big 4th Leads Magic Past Nets

[February 27, 2008]  EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Hedo Turkoglu scored 17 his 25 points in the fourth quarter and the Orlando Magic won their third straight game, 102-92 over the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday night.

Rashard Lewis added 25 points, and slam dunk champion Dwight Howard had his 50th double-double of the season (17 points, 10 rebounds) as Orlando ran its streak of 100-point games to nine.

Vince Carter had 26 points and Richard Jefferson 20 for New Jersey, which is 2-2 since trading star point guard Jason Kidd to Dallas in an eight-player deal on Feb. 19.

Trailing 81-78 after Kidd's replacement, Marcus Williams, hit a 3-pointer with 6:13 to go, Turkoglu took off, like he has all season in the fourth quarter.

Coming into the game, Turkoglu had scored 10 or more points in the fourth quarter 12 times. He made his 13th look easy.

Turkoglu hit an open 3-pointer to tie the game at 81 with 5:18 to go. With the scored tied at 83, Turkoglu scored uncontested when the Nets' defense fell asleep, added a fading, rainbow 3-pointer and two free throws for a 90-83 lead with 2:55 to play.

Carter scored on a jumper to get New Jersey within five points, but Howard, Turkoglu and Keith Bogans combined for four free throws to push the lead to 94-85.

The Nets never got closer than six points the rest of the way.

Maurice Evans and Keyon Dooling added 14 points apiece for Orlando.

Josh Boone had 12 points and 11 rebounds for New Jersey, which gave up 32 fourth-quarter points in seeing its four-game winning streak at home snapped.

Notes: The Magic failed to hit a 3-pointer in the opening half and finished with five, tying their season low. ...Carter was literally 3 feet wide right and 2 feet short on a jumper from the top of the key in the third quarter. ...Orlando is now 20-0 when it holds an opponent under 95 points. ...The Magic have won three of four against New Jersey this season. ...Point guard Devin Harris, acquired in the Kidd trade and expected to take over the position, will practice with the team for the first time on Wednesday. He has not played since Jan. 27 because of a sprained left ankle.

[Associated Press; By TOM CANAVAN]

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