National Basketball Association

Snow, Nets can't stop Magic's roll

Published Dec. 27, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

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Dwight Howard had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic won their third straight with a 104-88 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Monday night.

Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 points as the Magic had six players in double figures in beating the Nets for the third time in three meetings this season.

Orlando hit a dozen 3-pointers and shot 49 percent from the field despite having the team show up less than 90 minutes before the game because one of its buses got stuck in a snow drift on the way to the Prudential Center.

Devin Harris had 24 points to lead New Jersey, which lost its second straight and for the eighth time in 11 games. Brook Lopez added 20.

Limited to two points and three rebounds after picking up three first-half fouls, Howard dominated the second half with 17 points and 10 rebounds. The All-Star center made an effort to get inside after the Magic went the first half without taking a free throw.

Howard shot 11 free throws in the third quarter alone and the Magic finished with 19 attempts.

The game-breaking run for Orlando came after New Jersey rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit and took a 57-55 lead on a 3-pointer by Travis Outlaw with 7:35 to play in the third quarter.

Turkoglu responded with a 3-pointer on Orlando's next possession and it triggered a 26-12 spurt the rest of the period. Howard had nine points in that run and Jason Richardson added eight of his 14 points.

The Nets were their own worst enemy in the closing minutes of the period, turning the ball over twice late while Jordan Farmar missed two free throws.

Orlando put away the game in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, scoring the first nine points. Turkoglu started the run with a 3-pointer and Gilbert Arenas ended it with another.

J.J. Redick added 15 points for Orlando, while Brandon Bass had 11 and Ryan Anderson 10.

NOTES: Arenas had a three-quarter court heave at the halftime buzzer waved off because the ball hit the shot clock after bouncing off the rim and then going through. ...Turkoglu and Howard got first-half technical fouls. ... Patrons who braved the aftermath of a storm that dumped more than 2 feet of snow in the area will be allowed to exchange their tickets for a Nets' home game in January. ... Nets coach Avery Johnson said shooting guard Anthony Morrow will be out longer than the 2-3 weeks estimate with a hamstring injury.