GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: MIAMI (3-9) at ORLANDO (11-3)

NBA: MIAMI at ORLANDO

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 97
ORLANDO 111 4:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: MIAMI at ORLANDO

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 97
ORLANDO 114 2:31 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: MIAMI at ORLANDO

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI 99
ORLANDO 120 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: MIAMI at ORLANDO

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MIAMI 28 21 27 23 99
ORLANDO 34 25 32 29 120 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: MIA - DWYANE WADE 32, RICKY DAVIS 23,
ALEXANDER JOHNSON 20
ORL - HEDO TURKOGLU 27, RASHARD LEWIS 19,
DWIGHT HOWARD 17</div>

 

NBA: MIAMI at ORLANDO

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MIAMI 28 21 27 23 99
ORLANDO 34 25 32 29 120 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: MIA - DWYANE WADE 32, RICKY DAVIS 23,
ALEXANDER JOHNSON 20
ORL - HEDO TURKOGLU 27, RASHARD LEWIS 19,
DWIGHT HOWARD 17</div>

 

NBA: MIAMI at ORLANDO

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
MIAMI 99
ORLANDO 120 FINAL</div>

 

By Jim Rickenbacker
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- It seemed like old times as formerOrlando Magic stars Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway returnedtogether to take on their old team. But Dwight Howard did notlet them enjoy similar success in the "Magic Kingdom" this timearound.


An early-season candidate for MVP, Howard collected 17 pointsand 13 rebounds and Hedo Turkoglu added 27 points as the Magicsecure their seventh win in their last eight games, 120-99, overHardaway, O'Neal and the Miami Heat on Saturday.


O'Neal and Hardaway led - a dynamic duo over a decade ago withthe Magic - led Orlando to the 1995 NBA Finals. But with bothplayers declining in the twilight of their careers, it was theMagic's current star who carried the day.


Howard, who promised in the preseason to be an "animal" everynight, didn't put up the monster numbers he did in Fridaynight's win over the Charlotte Bobcats that featured nine dunksby the All-Star center.


But he once again drew rave reviews, shooting 6-of-7 from thefield on Saturday, while Turkoglu shot 9-of-16 - including5-of-7 from the arc.


Beating the Heat was just as pleasurable for Orlando coach StanVan Gundy, who took Miami to the Eastern Conference finals in2004-05.


By the time the next season rolled around for the Heat, PatRiley returned to coaching and Van Gundy wound up consulting,remaining loyal to Riley.


On Saturday night, Van Gundy and the Heat found themselves in aheated matchup of division rivals at different ends of thestandings.


The Magic squandered a 20-point lead against the Boston Celticsthis past Sunday and allowed the Bobcats to hang around forlonger than Van Gundy would have liked.


By halftime Saturday night, Orlando had a 59-49 advantage,thanks to Howard's 14 points. O'Neal wound up with 12 points atthe half, but Howard had three more rebounds and a block thathelped the Magic grab their 10-point halftime lead.

Nevertheless, the Magic missed seven free throws in the firsthalf, particularly disturbing since they missed 17 againstCharlotte.


Propelled by its bench, Orlando's lead swelled to 86-66 on apair of free throws by Keyon Dooling with 2:28 remaining in thethird period.


In fact, the reason Orlando still maintained a double-digit leadwas its bench. By the early part of the fourth period,Orlando's bench had outscored Miami's reserves, 31-9.

Dooling, who scored 14 points against Charlotte, ran his totalto 12 against the Heat to give the Magic a 97-81 cushion earlyin the final period.


Not even the shooting of Dwayne Wade nor O'Neal's dunks couldbring the Heat back from that deep hole.


O'Neal, who accounted for a pair of three-point plays early inthe fourth period, finished with 20 points. Wade racked up 22of his 32 points in the second half, including 11 in the thirdperiod for Miami.

 

NBA: MIAMI at ORLANDO

<div class="pre">MIAMI (99) AT ORLANDO (120)

MIAMI

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

R DAVIS F 41:44 7-16 6-6 0 6 6 7 4 2 2 23
U HASLEM F 33:36 3-7 2-2 3 2 5 2 2 1 2 8
S O'NEAL C 30:43 8-15 4-6 1 5 6 1 4 0 3 20
D WADE G 40:13 12-21 8-11 2 4 6 6 2 1 4 32
J WILLIAMS G 29:06 1-5 0-0 0 3 3 3 3 0 0 3
A MOURNING 13:19 1-2 0-0 1 4 5 0 4 0 1 2
S PARKER 27:47 3-7 0-0 0 3 3 2 5 0 0 7
P HARDAWAY 9:32 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 0 2 1 1 0
M BLOUNT 8:55 2-4 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 4
D WRIGHT 0:03 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A JOHNSON 2:31 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
C QUINN 2:31 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 37-79 20-25 7 30 37 21 28 5 13 99
(.468) (.800) TEAM REBS: 7 TOTAL TO: 13 (16 PTS)

ORLANDO

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

H TURKOGLU F 37:17 9-16 4-6 1 1 2 3 3 0 0 27
R LEWIS F 38:24 7-18 5-5 1 3 4 4 2 2 4 19
D HOWARD C 38:35 6-7 5-10 3 10 13 2 2 2 2 17
K BOGANS G 26:59 3-4 1-2 1 4 5 4 1 1 0 9
J NELSON G 30:56 5-8 2-4 0 7 7 7 5 1 3 12
B COOK 8:49 2-4 0-0 0 3 3 1 1 0 0 4
K DOOLING 22:01 4-7 8-8 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 17
C ARROYO 16:04 2-3 3-4 0 1 1 2 1 1 1 7
M EVANS 11:31 3-7 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 6
A FOYLE 9:24 1-1 0-0 1 0 1 1 4 0 0 2
J AUGUSTINE DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J REDICK DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 42-75 28-39 7 30 37 24 21 8 11 120
(.560) (.718) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 11 (11 PTS)

MIAMI 28 21 27 23 - 99
ORLANDO 34 25 32 29 - 120

BLOCKED SHOTS: MIAMI - A MOURNING, D WADE. ORLANDO - D HOWARD.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: MIAMI 5-19 (.263), R DAVIS 3-9, D WADE 0-1, J WILLIAMS 1-
3, S PARKER 1-4, M BLOUNT 0-1, C QUINN 0-1. ORLANDO 8-22 (.364), H TURKOGLU 5-
7, R LEWIS 0-6, K BOGANS 2-3, J NELSON 0-1, B COOK 0-2, K DOOLING 1-
1, M EVANS 0-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: MIAMI - D WADE, S O'NEAL.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: ELY ROE, JAMES CAPERS, JOE FORTE.
A - 17,519. T - 2:24.</div>

 

NBA: MIAMI at ORLANDO

<div class="pre">MIAMI (99)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Davis 41:44 7-16 6-6 0-6 7 4 23
U Haslem 33:36 3-7 2-2 3-5 2 2 8
S O'Neal 30:43 8-15 4-6 1-6 1 4 20
D Wade 40:13 12-21 8-11 2-6 6 2 32
J Williams 29:06 1-5 0-0 0-3 3 3 3
A Mourning 13:19 1-2 0-0 1-5 0 4 2
S Parker 27:47 3-7 0-0 0-3 2 5 7
P Hardaway 9:32 0-0 0-0 0-2 0 2 0
M Blount 8:55 2-4 0-0 0-0 0 1 4
D Wright 0:03 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
A Johnson 2:31 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
C Quinn 2:31 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 37-79 20-25 7-37 21 28 99
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.468, FT-.800. 3-Point Goals:
5-19, .263 (R Davis 3-9, D Wade 0-1, J
Williams 1-3, S Parker 1-4, M Blount 0-1, C
Quinn 0-1). Team Rebounds: 7. Blocked Shots:2
(A Mourning, D Wade). Turnovers:13 (D Wade 4,
S O'Neal 3, R Davis 2, U Haslem 2, P
Hardaway, A Mourning). Steals: 5 (R Davis 2,
P Hardaway, D Wade, U Haslem).


ORLANDO (120)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
H Turkoglu 37:17 9-16 4-6 1-2 3 3 27
R Lewis 38:24 7-18 5-5 1-4 4 2 19
D Howard 38:35 6-7 5-10 3-13 2 2 17
K Bogans 26:59 3-4 1-2 1-5 4 1 9
J Nelson 30:56 5-8 2-4 0-7 7 5 12
B Cook 8:49 2-4 0-0 0-3 1 1 4
K Dooling 22:01 4-7 8-8 0-1 0 1 17
C Arroyo 16:04 2-3 3-4 0-1 2 1 7
M Evans 11:31 3-7 0-0 0-0 0 1 6
A Foyle 9:24 1-1 0-0 1-1 1 4 2
J Augustine DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J Redick DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 42-75 28-39 7-37 24 21 120
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.560, FT-.718. 3-Point Goals:
8-22, .364 (H Turkoglu 5-7, R Lewis 0-6, K
Bogans 2-3, J Nelson 0-1, B Cook 0-2, K
Dooling 1-1, M Evans 0-2). Team Rebounds: 10.
Blocked Shots:1 (D Howard). Turnovers:11 (R
Lewis 4, J Nelson 3, D Howard 2, K Dooling, C
Arroyo). Steals: 8 (R Lewis 2, D Howard 2, K
Dooling, C Arroyo, J Nelson, K Bogans).

-------------------------------------------
MIAMI 28 21 27 23 - 99
ORLANDO 34 25 32 29 - 120
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Miami - 2 (D Wade, 0:41 3rd;
S O'Neal, 11:25 4th).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 17,519. T: 2:24.
Officials: Ely Roe, James Capers, Joe Forte.</div>

 

By Jim Rickenbacker
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- It seemed like old times asformer Orlando Magic stars Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardawayreturned together to take on their old team. But Dwight Howarddid not let them enjoy similar success in the "Magic Kingdom"this time around.


An early-season candidate for MVP, Howard collected 17 pointsand 13 rebounds and Hedo Turkoglu added 27 points as the Magicsecure their seventh win in their last eight games, 120-99, overHardaway, O'Neal and the Miami Heat on Saturday.


O'Neal and Hardaway - a dynamic duo over a decade ago with theMagic - led Orlando to the 1995 NBA Finals. But with bothplayers declining in the twilight of their careers, it was theMagic's current star who carried the day along with a resurgentbench.


"I thought this was the closest we've come all year to putting48 minutes together," said Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy, whoseteam now embarks on five-game West Coast trip. "I thought wewere outstanding at the offensive end against a very gooddefensive team.


"They had a pretty good night, but we had a great night. Thisis a very good win for us heading out on the road."

Howard, who promised in the preseason to be an "animal" everynight, didn't put up the monster numbers he did in Fridaynight's win over the Charlotte Bobcats that featured nine dunksby the All-Star center.


But he once again drew noteworthy reviews, shooting 6-of-7 fromthe field on Saturday, while Turkoglu shot 9-of-16 - including5-of-7 from the arc.


"If you look at the last three games before this one, (Howard's)numbers are frightening," said former Magic coach RichieAdubado, who is the team's the current radio color analyst."Domination is the only word to describe it."


Despite his numbers the past few games and the way he's carriedhimself on court this season, Howard remains humble about hisperformances.


"I've got a very long way to go," Howard said. "You've got tobecome a good player before you become a great player."

Beating the Heat was just as pleasurable for Van Gundy, whocoached the Heat to the Eastern Conference finals in 2004-05.

By the time the next season rolled around for the Heat, PatRiley returned to coaching and Van Gundy wound up consulting,remaining loyal to Riley.


Nevertheless, Van Gundy downplayed meeting Miami for the firsttime in the regular season.


"Tonight was like any other game, it really was," Van Gundysaid. "We also haven't had time to think about it like youwould if you had all week to build up and think about it.

"This is our fifth game in seven days, so I didn't have time tothink about this game until (Friday night) after the (Charlotte)game."


On Saturday night, Van Gundy and the Magic found themselves in aheated matchup of division rivals at different ends of thestandings.


The Magic squandered a 20-point lead against the Boston Celticsthis past Sunday and allowed the Bobcats to hang around forlonger than Van Gundy would have liked.


By halftime Saturday night, Orlando had a 59-49 advantage,thanks to Howard's 14 points. O'Neal wound up with 12 points atthe half, but Howard had three more rebounds and a block latein the second period that helped the Magic grab their 10-pointhalftime lead.


Still, the Magic missed seven free throws in the first half,particularly disturbing since they missed 17 against Charlotte.

Propelled by its bench, Orlando's lead swelled to 86-66 on apair of free throws by Keyon Dooling with 2:28 remaining in thethird period.


In fact, the reason Orlando still maintained a double-digit leadwas its bench. For the game, the Magic's bench outscored theHeat's reserves, 36-13, led by Dooling's 17 points.

"What we want to do as the bench is compliment the starters,"said Dooling, who also is a former member of the Heat."Obviously, when you're playing against some of your formerteammates, and some of the people you used to work with, it'sexciting and you want to beat them. Being from South Florida, Ialways get up for the Heat."


Dooling, who scored 14 points against Charlotte, ran his totalto 12 against the Heat to give the Magic a 97-81 cushion earlyin the final period.


Not even the shooting of Dwayne Wade nor O'Neal's dunks couldbring the Heat back from that deep hole.


"They are one of the best teams in the league when they aremaking their shots," Wade said. "Even though they have Dwight'spost presence, they still rely on the outside shot. Whenthey're making them, they're a pretty tough team."

O'Neal, who accounted for a pair of three-point plays early inthe fourth period, finished with 20 points. Wade racked up 22of his 32 points in the second half, including 11 in the thirdperiod for Miami.


"We had a lot of stupid mistakes, but we fought back," O'Nealsaid. "They just capitalized on our mistakes, and we couldn'tget over the hump. At this point in the season, I'm notworried."