Magic end Bulls' 8-game win streak

[March 09, 2012]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Dwight Howard had 29 points and 18 rebounds to lead the Orlando Magic to a 99-94 win over the Bulls on Thursday, snapping Chicago's eight-game winning streak.

Chicago twice overcame double-digit deficits and led 91-89 with 2:56 to play after Derrick Rose passed to Carlos Boozer for a jumper.

Orlando responded with an 8-1 run started by Jameer Nelson's lob to Howard for a dunk. Ryan Anderson hit a 3 and a pair of free throws in the game-deciding rally.

The Magic bounced back from a 100-84 loss at Charlotte, beating the league-best Bulls two nights after losing to the last-place Bobcats.

Boozer led the Bulls with 26 points. Rose added 17 points and nine assists, but shot just 6 for 22 from the field.

Jason Richardson scored 18 points and hit four 3-pointers for the Magic. Orlando hit 11 3-pointers.

Orlando led by 10 early in the fourth quarter before Chicago tied the game with a nine-point run. Boozer scored eight points in the first three minutes of the quarter.

The Magic jumped out to a 17-point lead in the first quarter after a conventional three-point play finished by Howard capped an 11-point Orlando run. Orlando shot 15 for 20 and hit six 3-pointers in the opening period.

The Magic still led by 15 after Howard put in a lob from Hedo Turkoglu with 1:58 to go in the first half. Howard scored 19 points before the break.

Kyle Korver scored eight straight Chicago points to keep the Bulls in the game, then Chicago reeled off the last 10 points of the quarter to gain the momentum heading into the break.

Luol Deng hit a wide-open 3 after an offensive rebound by Joakim Noah, cutting the Orlando lead to single digits for the first time since midway through the first quarter.

Nelson threw away a pass and Rose hit a running 3 as the half expired, drawing Chicago within 57-52.

In the third quarter, Boozer capped an 8-2 run with a short jumper that gave Chicago its first lead of the game. Orlando responded with a 13-4 run to end the quarter, the last six of its points coming on back-to-back Richardson 3-pointers.

NOTES: The Bulls played without guards Richard Hamilton (right shoulder contusion) and C.J. Watson (left ankle sprain). Hamilton has missed 25 of Chicago's 41 games this season because of injuries, while Watson sat out for a third straight game. No timetable was given for either player's return, though coach Tom Thibodeau said Watson is "getting close." ... Thursday's game was the first of a tough four-game stretch for Orlando leading into next Thursday's trade deadline. After playing the Bulls, the Magic have home games against Indiana and Miami, then a road game at San Antonio.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.