Howard, Magic upend Wizards

Orlando's Dwight Howard had 26 points and 14 boards vs. the Wizards. (Nick Wass/Associated Press)

Dwight Howard had 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks, and Hedo Turkoglu added 20 points and a season-high 10 rebounds to help the Orlando Magic beat the host Washington Wizards, 105-90, last night.

Orlando has won eight of its last nine games and six in a row on the road.

Caron Butler scored 19 of his 25 points in the first half for Washington, and Antawn Jamison had 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Howard had 14 points and nine rebounds in the first 8:45. JaVale McGee started at center for Washington, and he picked up two fouls in 2:16. Andray Blatche was the next to try to stop Howard, and he had two fouls in 1:47. By then, Howard had 7 points.

Etan Thomas was the third to guard Howard, who scored 7 more points as the Magic went on an 11-0 run to take a 25-11 lead. Howard went to the bench moments later, and Washington, which has dropped 11 of its 13 games this season, went on a 19-3 run to cut it to 38-34 early in the second quarter.

Orlando had just 3 points in the first 6:57 of the second quarter after scoring 38 points in the first quarter - the most allowed by Washington this season.

The Wizards played their second game under interim coach Ed Tapscott after beating Golden State by 24 points in the first. Tapscott, who replaced Eddie Jordan on Monday, said he'd had time to add a few of his own innovations to the offense. He suggested that Butler and Jamison would play on the same side of the court more often, and also warned there probably wouldn't be a repeat of Tuesday night's romp.

In late games Wednesday might, Utah whipped Memphis, 117-100; Denver edged the Los Angeles Clippers, 106-105; New Jersey got past Sacramento, 116-114, in overtime; and Portland blasted Miami, 106-68.

At Salt Lake City, Deron Williams scored 11 points and had 15 assists in his return to the lineup, powering the Jazz.

At Los Angeles, Carmelo Anthony scored 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as Denver won after blowing a 13-point lead.

At Sacramento, Calif., Vince Carter scored 25 points as New Jersey won at Arco Arena for the first time since Nov. 30, 1997.

At Portland, Ore., reserve Channing Frye scored 17 points, LaMarcus Aldridge added 16, and Portland led by as many as 40 points.