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From Orlando Sentinel

Magic 104, Lakers 97

Orlando Magic cools off Kobe in road win

Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer
December 3, 2007

LOS ANGELES - The Orlando Magic held their breath that they had enough men to beat one -- a guy named Kobe. Maybe two, if you count referee-baiter Jack Nicholson, who's also an actor.

The difference in the Magic being able to survive Bryant and the Lakers 104-97 on Sunday was that their star, center Dwight Howard, had a team around him.

Orlando made big plays offensively and defensively down the stretch -- holding Kobe to just six points in the second half -- and won for the first time in L.A. since 1996, a span of 10 games.

With Keith Bogans and former Laker Maurice Evans assigned to guard Kobe, the Magic didn't panic after Bryant had 22 first-half points and they were getting manhandled on the boards.

"Keith could have gotten discouraged, but he kept chopping wood," combo guard Keyon Dooling said. "It's great to win here and win on the road, but we have to stay even-keel. I know it sounds redundant, but we can't get too high or too low."

The Magic improved their road record to 10-2 and 15-4 overall with one game left on this West trip, tonight's game in Oakland against the Golden State Warriors.

Howard, coming off a 30-point, 20-rebound game Friday night in Phoenix, got into foul trouble early and managed just 17 points and eight rebounds.

But he found assistance that Bryant never received, getting 10 3-pointers from his shooters and 42 points from the bench, led by Dooling's 14. Adonal Foyle (eight points, seven rebounds and three blocks), J.J. Redick (eight points) and Evans (nine points) played huge roles.

"Everybody did a great job tonight -- that's what you have to have," Howard said.

Hedo Turkoglu hit a 3-pointer to give the Magic a 94-93 lead they would not relinquish with four minutes, 22 seconds left. Bogans then stole a pass from Bryant and Howard and Dooling added dunks on run-outs, borrowing a page from the Suns' playbook.

Bryant started ominously, burning the Magic for 19 first-quarter points. He had entered with 11 consecutive games of scoring at least 20 points against them.

The Magic needed Dooling's stellar night at point guard as they played without backup point guard Carlos Arroyo and watched as starter Jameer Nelson (two points on 1-of-9) struggled again. Arroyo left the team late Saturday night to return to Orlando after his daughter, Gabriella, became ill, apparently with pneumonia.

Orlando stretched its lead to 10 in the third period, but their shooting cooled. And L.A. (9-8) simply played harder, coming back from a 65-55 deficit with an 18-5 outburst. Every Laker starter -- not just Bryant -- had at least one basket.

Derek Fisher hit two baskets in the run as the Lakers went ahead 73-70. Magic combo guard Dooling scored two consecutive baskets as the period ended with the Magic clinging to a 77-75 lead.

Kobe did everything humanly possible to lift the Lakers early on, but his exploits were forgotten by halftime in a hail of 3-pointers by the Magic.

Orlando led 63-55 at intermission after falling behind by 12, thanks to nine 3-pointers in 15 attempts. They made 7-of-10 in the second quarter alone, outscoring the Lakers 39-25, with Lewis making all three of 3-pointers and Keith Bogans nailing both of his.

The Magic shot 58.3 percent in the period while the Lakers cooled to 38.5, and Bryant missing 5-of-6 shots.

Bryant turned a sloppy, ragged first quarter into another Kobe exhibit, providing a reminder why the Lakers would hate to trade him.

With the Magic in arrears 12-11, Kobe score four consecutive baskets, including a run of three 3-pointers, to outscore Orlando 11-zip. He gave the Lakers a 23-11 lead to wake up Jack Nicholson and Lindsay Lohan, among others in the crowd.


Trevor Ariza can't crack L.A. lineupC5

Related topic galleries: Keyon Dooling, Jack Nicholson, J.J. Redick, Hedo Turkoglu, Dwight Howard, Carlos Arroyo, Jameer Nelson

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Copyright © 2008, Orlando Sentinel

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