GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: ORLANDO (16-7) at CHARLOTTE (8-12)

NBA: ORLANDO (16-7) at CHARLOTTE (8-12)

<h3>Magic look to snap three-game losing streak at Charlotte</h3>

<div class="pre">Orlando (16-7) at Charlotte (8-12) 8:00 pm EST</div>

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) - The Orlando Magic will lookto snap its first three-game losing streak of the season whenthey visit the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday.


The Magic are coming off a 100-88 defeat to Milwaukee onWednesday.


Meanwhile, Charlotte topped the 100-point mark for the firsttime in nine games, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers, 108-103,on Wednesday.


The matchup will also feature a key battle in the middle betweenthe first and second overall draft picks from the 2004 NBAdraft.


Dwight Howard - the No. 1 overall pick from that draft - isaveraging 22.9 points and a league-leading 15.1 rebounds thisseason for Orlando, including 19 double-doubles.


Howard is also averaging 18.6 points and 14.9 rebounds in 13career games against Charlotte.


Emeka Okafor has been solid as well this season, posting 12double-doubles, including a 25 points, 16 rebound performance inWednesday's win over the Clippers.


The Connecticut-product has also averaged a double-double in hiscareer against Orlando, posting 14.6 points and 10.1 rebounds.

Orlando won the first meeting, 105-92, at home on November 23and the two teams split the four meetings last season.

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

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


ORLANDO CHARLOTTE

F Hedo Turkoglu F Gerald Wallace
F Rashard Lewis F Ryan Hollins
C Dwight Howard C Emeka Okafor
G Keith Bogans G Jason Richardson
G Jameer Nelson G Raymond Felton

OFFICIALS: Monty McCutchen
Scott Wall
Gary Zielinski</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">ORLANDO VS CHARLOTTE - INACTIVES

ORLANDO CHARLOTTE

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
T BATTIE ROTATOR CUFF A MORRISON KNEE INJURY
C ARROYO FOOT INJURY
M GORTAT COACH'S DECISION</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 7
CHARLOTTE 5 9:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 14
CHARLOTTE 14 5:43 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 18
CHARLOTTE 18 2:49 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 23
CHARLOTTE 24 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ORLANDO 23 23
CHARLOTTE 24 24 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

ORL - DWIGHT HOWARD 9, KEITH BOGANS 7, RASHARD
LEWIS 4
CHA - GERALD WALLACE 9, JASON RICHARDSON 5,
EMEKA OKAFOR 4</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 31
CHARLOTTE 31 8:47 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 36
CHARLOTTE 35 5:39 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 38
CHARLOTTE 39 2:39 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 42
CHARLOTTE 51 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ORLANDO 23 19 42
CHARLOTTE 24 27 51 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

ORL - DWIGHT HOWARD 13, HEDO TURKOGLU 8, KEITH
BOGANS 7
CHA - GERALD WALLACE 11, JASON RICHARDSON 10,
RAYMOND FELTON 10</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 48
CHARLOTTE 57 8:50 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 59
CHARLOTTE 59 5:55 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 63
CHARLOTTE 61 2:55 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 72
CHARLOTTE 64 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ORLANDO 23 19 30 72
CHARLOTTE 24 27 13 64 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

ORL - DWIGHT HOWARD 21, HEDO TURKOGLU 18,
KEYON DOOLING 9
CHA - RAYMOND FELTON 14, JASON RICHARDSON 12,
GERALD WALLACE 11</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 80
CHARLOTTE 69 8:43 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: ORLANDO at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA ORLANDO 87
CHARLOTTE 75 5:44 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>