Magic 104, Rockets 95
Dwight Howard bounced back from a flat opening-day performance with 21 points and seven rebounds as the visiting Orlando Magic picked up their first victory with a 104-95 triumph over the Houston Rockets on Monday.
Hedo Turkoglu scored 23 points and J.J. Redick added 20 off the bench for the Magic, who fell at Oklahoma City on Sunday.
Howard, whose trade request has the franchise in limbo, struggled to 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting in Sunday’s setback. The All-Star center had no such trouble early on Monday, connecting on eight of 11 shots in the first half to guide Orlando into the locker room with a 53-50 edge.
An 11-4 burst to begin the third quarter pushed the lead to double figures.
Houston made a run in the fourth, closing to within 89-85 with 6:31 left, but Turkoglu hit a 3-pointer to spark a 9-2 burst and the Magic coasted to the finish.
The Rockets, who were rebuffed by the commissioner’s office in their efforts to rebuild during the preseason, got 20 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds from Kyle Lowry.
Kevin Martin, one of the key pieces heading out of town in the squashed trade that would have landed Pau Gasol in Houston, went 1-of-10 from the floor and finished with four points.