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From Orlando Sentinel

MAGIC 111, TIMBERWOLVES 103

Orlando Magic win again on the road

Dwight Howard scores 28 points and Rashard Lewis adds 27 as the Magic improve to 3-1.

Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer
November 7, 2007
Dwight Howard

Minnesota Timberwolves' Rashad McCants (1) goes up for two points as Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard defends in the first quarter of a game in Minneapolis. (Jim Mone, Associated Press / November 6, 2007)


MINNEAPOLIS - Curiously scrawled on the huge grease board in the Orlando Magic's locker room were the words, "GET GREEDY."

"It means don't settle for one win or two wins on the road. Let's get greedy and get them all," Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu said.

The Magic won their second consecutive game on the road in their first trip of the season and improved to 3-1 overall, outlasting the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-103 on Tuesday night at Target Center.

They face the Toronto Raptors tonight at Air Canada Centre and conclude the four-game junket Friday night in New York against the Knicks.

To get as greedy as Dr. Seuss' Grinch, Turkoglu knows the Magic have to fully overcome an old habit in which, he said, "We used to lose games like this."

They came into the game against the young, rebuilding Kevin Garnett-less T'wolves with a history of underachievement the past few seasons, falling to teams with worse records or who were missing key players.

Then again, they didn't have Rashard Lewis, Mr. Go To. Nor did they witness Dwight Howard making clutch free throws.

The Magic started slowly and nearly fell apart late to send up warning signs as the T'wolves roared back from a 16-point deficit in the final quarter.

With Orlando clinging to a two-point lead, Lewis nailed three consecutive 3-point jumpers, answering every Minnesota charge. His last long-distance dagger blunted a terrific effort on the night by Al Jefferson -- acquired from the Boston Celtics in the Garnett deal -- and gave the Magic a 101-95 lead with about four minutes remaining.

Lewis, the Magic's $118-million free agent signed for such moments, finished with 27 points, hitting a career-high seven 3-pointers.

"Stepping up big in the fourth . . . we had to compose ourselves. We didn't play good defense, but I just was able to knock down some big 3s," Lewis said.

Howard, a 59 percent free-throw shooter last season, then made two big free throws with one minute, 50 seconds left and the lead whittled to 104-100. He hit 12-of-16 from the line, the highlight of a 28-point, 16-rebound effort.

Carlos Arroyo scored 18 points and had six assists filling in brilliantly for injured starter Jameer Nelson at point guard. Turkoglu added 14 points but sprained his right ankle and is questionable for tonight.

Jefferson scored 25 points and had 10 rebounds while former Gators star Corey Brewer scored 10 points and had six rebounds off the bench.

Jefferson singlehandedly led the T'wolves' fourth-quarter comeback while the Magic tried to rest Howard, Turkoglu and Arroyo, scoring 12 of his points in the period. The Magic watched a 16-point lead shrink to two in about four minutes by playing "atrocious defense," according to Coach Stan Van Gundy.

Orlando made up for its porous defense by committing just nine turnovers, continuing to take care of the ball.

It's a good thing the T'wolves can't yet get out of their own way. Point guard Sebastian Telfair threw a pass that Turkoglu, playing on his sore ankle, stole for a layup and a 108-100 lead with a minute left.

The Magic played without Nelson and reserve shooting guard J.J. Redick. Nelson was held out in a game-time decision with concussion-like symptoms after taking an elbow in the jaw from teammate Bo Outlaw in Monday's practice. Redick came away from the practice with back spasms severe enough to have him sent back to Orlando for treatment.

Arroyo played a part after being benched just Saturday night in favor of defensive-minded Keyon Dooling against the Washington Wizards. "Hopefully, I don't have to go through that again," he said. "You have to be ready no matter what the circumstances."

Arroyo was around last season when the Magic fell to teams such as the T'wolves.

"This is a different team, a different coaching staff," he said. "We're not predictable anymore. We have Rashard, and Dwight's hitting free throws. We just have to keep it going."

Get greedy.


Brian Schmitz can be reached at bschmitz@orlandosentinel.com.

Related topic galleries: Florida Gators, Kevin Garnett, Orlando Magic, Basketball, J.J. Redick, Jameer Nelson, Bo Outlaw

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