Magic rout Suns
Ryan Anderson admits he’s been joking with Rashard Lewis about who will be the Orlando Magic’s starting power forward when the All-Star returns from suspension.
For now, it’s no joke: Anderson is filling in just fine.
Anderson had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Dwight Howard scored 25 and the short-handed Orlando Magic defeated the previously unbeaten Phoenix Suns 122-100 Wednesday night.
Playing without injured Vince Carter and Lewis, the Magic built a 23-point lead in the third quarter to pull away from the Suns.
Amare Stoudemire finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds for Phoenix (4-1), which was looking to match the 1984-85 team for the franchise’s best start. The Suns had come back from deficits in the first half but never did come close after the Magic built a big lead late.
“Well, dreams of an undefeated season have gone down,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said.
Jameer Nelson added 16 points, and Mickael Pietrus had 15 points for the Magic. They did it despite Carter missing the game with a sprained left ankle that coach Stan Van Gundy said doesn’t appear serious, while Lewis is suspended for the first 10 games after testing positive for an elevated level of testosterone.
The Magic turned a close game into a blowout.
Led by a powerful performance by its front court, Orlando opened the third quarter with a 16-4 spurt. Howard and Anderson were slicing through the paint for dunks, and their dominant play inside opened up shots on the perimeter that Orlando – at times – couldn’t seem to miss.
The Magic shot 52.2 percent from three-point range and 52.3 percent from the field for the game. But they didn’t get much resistance.
Heat 93, Wizards 89: Dwyane Wade scored 40 points, including a go-ahead jumper with 25 seconds left, to lead the Heat in a victory over the Wizards.
It is the first time Wade reached 40 points since getting a career-high 55 in April against New York. Quentin Richardson had 19 points and nine rebounds for Miami (4-1).