GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: ORLANDO (4-1) at NEW YORK (2-1)

NBA: ORLANDO (4-1) at NEW YORK (2-1)

<h3>Randolph, Knicks welcome Howard, Magic into Madison Square Garden</h3>

<div class="pre">Orlando (4-1) at New York (2-1) 7:30 pm EST</div>

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Dwight Howard has had his way so far, butnow faces two major obstacles.


Howard and the Orlando Magic aim for their fourth straight winwhen they take on the New York Knicks on Friday.


Orlando defeated the Toronto Raptors, 105-96, on Wednesday towin its third straight game. All three wins have come away fromhome, giving the club its best road start in team history(3-0).


Howard has been a mainstay at center, averaging 18 points, 13rebounds and 2.4 blocks for the season. In the three victories,he has scored 20.6 points.


The All-Star has received much needed help from Rashard Lewis,who signed a multi-million dollar deal with the Magic thissummer. The 6-10 forward has recorded a team-leading 23.2points and has made a team-high 17 3-pointers to provide andeadly inside-outside tandem with Howard.


However, Howard will have his hands full vs. New York, whichalso has several impressive big men.


The Knicks rallied for a 119-112 win over Denver on Tuesday ascenter Eddy Curry and recently acquired power forward ZachRandolph controlled the paint.


The 6-11 Curry scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds whilethe 6-9 Randolph contributed 22 and a season-high 17 boards forNew York, which can move two games over .500 for the first timesince January 1, 2005 with a win over Orlando.


Curry is averaging 18.7 points while Randolph is scoring 19.3points and grabbing 13.7 rebounds for the Knicks, who have wontwo straight at home, and have also taken two of their lastthree meetings against Orlando.


The Magic, however, have won seven of their last 11 visits toMadison Square Garden.

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">ORLANDO AT NEW YORK - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


ORLANDO NEW YORK

F Rashard Lewis F Zach Randolph
F Hedo Turkoglu F Quentin Richardson
C Dwight Howard C Eddy Curry
G Keith Bogans G Jamal Crawford
G Jameer Nelson G Stephon Marbury

OFFICIALS: Bennett Salvatore
Violet Palmer
Mark Lindsey</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">ORLANDO VS NEW YORK - INACTIVES

ORLANDO NEW YORK

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
T BATTIE ROTATOR CUFF J JAMES KNEE INJURY
J REDICK BACK SPASMS J JEFFRIES KNEE INJURY
M GORTAT COACH'S DECISION W CHANDLER COACH'S DECISION</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 8
NEW YORK 11 8:49 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 19
NEW YORK 17 5:45 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 23
NEW YORK 21 2:58 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 28
NEW YORK 28 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ORLANDO 28 28
NEW YORK 28 28 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

ORL - JAMEER NELSON 10, DWIGHT HOWARD 6, TWO
PLAYERS WITH 5
NYK - ZACH RANDOLPH 7, JAMAL CRAWFORD 5,
QUENTIN RICHARDSON 5</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 34
NEW YORK 31 9:03 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 40
NEW YORK 39 5:43 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 42
NEW YORK 45 2:47 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 48
NEW YORK 49 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ORLANDO 28 20 48
NEW YORK 28 21 49 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

ORL - JAMEER NELSON 12, RASHARD LEWIS 7,
DWIGHT HOWARD 7
NYK - ZACH RANDOLPH 14, QUENTIN RICHARDSON 10,
EDDY CURRY 7</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 54
NEW YORK 59 8:47 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 53
NEW YORK 58 6:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 68
NEW YORK 69 2:24 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 77
NEW YORK 73 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ORLANDO 28 20 29 77
NEW YORK 28 21 24 73 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

ORL - RASHARD LEWIS 18, JAMEER NELSON 17,
KEITH BOGANS 16
NYK - ZACH RANDOLPH 18, QUENTIN RICHARDSON 13,
EDDY CURRY 13</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 83
NEW YORK 76 8:57 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 92
NEW YORK 81 5:49 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>