Howard, Carter put Magic up 2-0 over Bobcats

Vince Carter finished with 19 points, Dwight Howard scored 15 and the Orlando Magic took a 2-0 series lead with a 92-77 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats last night.

The Magic's star duo was less than stellar but took over when it counted most. They combined for 21 second-half points to help Orlando build a 20-point lead and hold on late.

Stephen Jackson showed no effects from his hyperextended left knee to score 27 points, and Gerald Wallace had 15 points for the Bobcats. But their 21 turnovers are a big reason why they're heading home still searching for the franchise's first playoff win.

Game 3 in the best-of-seven series is Saturday in Charlotte.

Spurs 102, Mavericks 88

Richard Jefferson rebounded from a miserable performance in the opener to score 19 points, helping visiting San Antonio tie the first-round series at one game apiece. Jefferson had 17 points by halftime, several coming during a 12-1 surge that broke it open for good. Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki went from hardly missing in Game 1 to hardly making. He missed six of his first seven shots, and even missed a free throw after having made 88 in a row. He finished with 24 points, down from 36 in the opener.

Brooks coach of year

Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks has been named the NBA's coach of the year after engineering the league's best turnaround. The Thunder won 27 more games this season than they did a year ago, going 50-32 and earning the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs with the NBA's youngest roster.

- AP