Orlando, FL (Best E Casino) - Vince Carter scored 34 of his season-high 48
points in the second half, rallying Orlando to a second straight victory,
123-117 over the New Orleans Hornets.
Carter scored nine during a 19-0 rally in the second half of Sunday's 96-89
win at Boston. The veteran was on fire again in the late going against the
Hornets. He finished the game 19-of-27 from the field, including 6-of-10 from
three-point range. Carter missed just four of his 17 field goal attempts in
the second half.
Dwight Howard powered his way for 25 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks
for the Magic, who won for the sixth time in seven games. Orlando rallied from
a 17-point deficit in the second half.
Peja Stojakovic scored 29 and pulled down nine rebounds for New Orleans, which
has lost four of five. David West and Darren Collison each chipped in 27
points for the Hornets, who had a four-game road winning streak stopped.
Collison also had nine assists.
Howard's two free throws gave the Magic their first lead since the opening
quarter at 108-107 with 3:40 remaining. After Collison missed a jumper, Carter
dribbled between his legs and blew by defenders for a layup and was fouled.
The free throw made it a four-point lead.
New Orleans managed to cut the deficit to 111-110 following a Collison layup,
but Carter nailed an ensuing three-pointer with 2:17 remaining. The Hornets
never got closer than three points, the last time at 120-117 on a Stojakovic
long-distance shot with 25.8 left. Rashard Lewis then made 1-of-2 free throws.
Howard later missed a pair from the foul line, but Lewis got the rebound and
made a pair to account for the final margin.
The Hornets gained a 32-28 lead after one quarter and they went 16-of-23 from
the field in the second, on the way to a 70-55 cushion at the half.
"For me, it's just about getting the win," Carter said. "After a very sluggish
start, they were more aggressive than us, pushing the ball, they were
attacking and being the aggressors. We had to do something about it."
New Orleans gained its largest lead with the opening bucket of the third, but
Orlando came back with a 28-12 push, getting within one on a Carter layup at
the three-minute mark. It was 94-87 moving to the fourth.
"We were expecting them to come out with their full effort and intensity and
that's what they did," Hornets coach Jeff Bower said. "They made their run at
us and it was a strong performance by Vince Carter to put them in this
position."
Game Notes
Lewis had 18 points for Orlando, which went 12-of-26 from beyond the
arc...James Posey and Darius Songaila each scored 10 for the Hornets...Carter
was three points shy of a career-high. His points were the most scored by a
Magic player since Tracy McGrady scored 62 vs. Washington on March 10, 2004.
