Howard leads Magic past Wizards for 4th straight victory

Source: Agencies  |   2008-11-9  |     ONLINE EDITION

DWIGHT Howard had a season-high 31 points and 16 rebounds, and also blocked three shots to help the Orlando Magic win their fourth straight game, 106-81 over the winless Washington Wizards yesterday.

Howard, who leads the NBA in blocked shots, hit 11 of 13 shots and nine of 14 free throws. Mickael Pietrus added 18 points, and Keith Bogans had 13 for Orlando (4-2).

Nick Young had 20 points for the Wizards (0-5), the only team in the Eastern Conference without a victory this season.

Hornets 100, Heat 89

At New Orleans, Chris Paul had 21 points and 13 assists for his sixth straight double-double to help New Orleans down Miami and snap a two-game losing streak.

Paul set an NBA record for consecutive games at the start of a season with at least 20 points and 10 assists, breaking the mark set by Oscar Robertson in 1968.

Paul also had seven rounds. David West added 21 points for New Orleans. Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 30 points, and Udonis Haslem added 12.

Pacers 98, Nets 80

At Indianapolis, Danny Granger scored 23 points to lead Indiana past New Jersey, making 10 of 12 free throws to offset 6-for-17 shooting from the field.

Indiana guard T.J. Ford nearly had a triple-double, but settled for 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Troy Murphy had 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Vince Carter led New Jersey with 31 points.

New Jersey's Devin Harris missed the game because of a sprained left ankle. He had a career-high 38 points Friday night in New Jersey's win over Detroit.

Suns 104, Bucks 96

At Milwaukee, Shaquille O'Neal had 29 points and 11 rebounds for Phoenix in his return from a one-game break.

O'Neal was 12-of-16 from the field a night after skipping a game in Chicago as part of a strategy to occasionally rest him during the season.