Dwight Howard's 20-20 Game Helps Magic Top Raptors

Orlando defeats Toronto 114-100 in playoff series opener
By Lev Weinstein,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 20, 2008 7:20 PM CDT
Dwight Howard's 20-20 Game Helps Magic Top Raptors
Toronto Raptors center Rasho Nesterovic, left, of Slovenia, takes a shot over Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard.    ((AP Photo/John Raoux))

Dwight Howard had 25 points and 22 rebounds, and Jameer Nelson scored 24 points, and the Orlando Magic defeated the Toronto Raptors 114-100 Sunday in the opener of their first-round series. Howard scored six straight points in a 10-0 fourth-quarter run that sealed Orlando's first playoff win since 2003. He also blocked five shots and made 9-of-11 free throws.

Anthony Parker had 24 points and 8 rebounds for Toronto, Chris Bosh scored 21 and Rasho Nesterovic had 16 points and 8 rebounds. Jason Kapono scored 18 off the bench. The Raptors, who trailed by 20 points after the first quarter, drew within five with 10:24 left in the fourth on two quick 3-pointers by Kapono and a Parker jumper. But Toronto went scoreless for the next 3:16 as Orlando pulled away. (More NBA stories.)

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