Magic 102, Heat 89
Dwight Howard controlled the paint with 25 points and 24 rebounds as the host Orlando Magic made a move in the Southeast Division with a 102-89 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday.
Ryan Anderson chipped in 27 points and 11 boards and Jameer Nelson scored 12 points for the Magic, who have won four of five.
Orlando gets another division test when it hosts the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.
The Magic were clinging to a 53-50 lead at the break on Wednesday after allowing Dwyane Wade and LeBron James to go off for a combined 37 points in the first half. Orlando changed it up for the third quarter, holding those two superstars scoreless during the frame.
Anderson’s 24 first-half points kept the Magic afloat so that Howard could take over in the third. The All-Star center went for eight points and seven boards in the frame, helping build a 77-61 lead heading into the final 12 minutes.
Wade woke up again in the fourth but the damage had already been done.
Wade finished with 33 points and James collected 17 and 10 assists for the Heat.