Seraphin's double-double leads Wizards past Magic

[April 11, 2012]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Kevin Seraphin took advantage of Dwight Howard's absence from Orlando's lineup, getting career highs of 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Washington Wizards to a 93-85 victory over the Magic on Tuesday night.

Jordan Crawford scored 21 points, John Wall had 15 and Cartier Martin and James Singleton -- both on 10-day contracts with the Wizards -- added 12 points each. Seraphin also matched a career high with four blocks.

Jameer Nelson scored 19 points and J.J. Redick added 15 for the Magic, who shot 36.6 percent from the field.

Howard missed his second straight game due to back spasms, and fourth in Orlando's six April games. The Magic have lost three of four in his absence.

"From what they're telling me, I'm not real concerned at all," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said before the game of Howard's condition. "This is a move to try to get it to 100 percent and not have to worry about anymore."

Both teams were coming off blowout victories Monday. The Magic beat the Pistons, 119-89, and the Wizards defeated the league-worst Bobcats, 113-85. But it was Washington, with the league's second-worst record that topped Orlando, which entered the day tied with the Hawks for the Eastern Conference's fourth-best record.

The Magic went on an 11-2 first-quarter run that gave them a 15-8 lead. With a 12-2 run later in the period, Orlando led until Wall's steal and three-point play capped an 11-0 run that briefly gave Washington a lead late in the first half.

Seraphin scored 10 of Washington's first 22 points.

The Magic ended the third quarter on a 6-0 run to take a 61-60 lead.

NOTES: Ishmael Smith was Orlando's backup PG on Tuesday after posting five points and three assists against Detroit on Monday, when the Magic suspended Chris Duhon for conduct detrimental to the team. Smith scored eight points, and Duhon, whom Orlando activated, didn't play against the Wizards. . Nene and Trevor Booker each missed their seventh straight game game with plantar fasciitis of the left foot. As they had for previous seven games, Jan Vesely and Seraphin started in place of Nene and Booker. . Rashard Lewis (knee) and Andray Blatche (conditioning) were inactive for Washington. Howard and Hedo Turkoglu (facial fractures) were inactive for Orlando. . Redick converted a four-point play in the first quarter. . Crawford scored eight straight points for the Wizards in the third quarter.

[Associated Press]

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