AP, Orlando, Fla., Mar 26: Dwight Howard had 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Hedo Turkoglu added 20 points and 13 assists to help the Orlando Magic hold off the New Jersey Nets in a 95-85 victory Friday night.
The Magic led by 10 at the half before giving up the lead early in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. They rallied and used a 13-0 run to put the game away.
Orlando won its fifth straight game and completed a 4-0 season sweep of New Jersey. The Magic have also won 14 of their last 17 meetings overall against the Nets.
Anthony Morrow had 19 points for the Nets, while Jordan Farmar added 15 points and 16 assists. New Jersey lost for the fifth time in six games.
The Nets tied it at 63 late in the third quarter and trailed by just three (66-63) entering the fourth.
A 3-pointer by Sasha Vujacic in the opening minutes of the final period gave the Nets a 68-66 lead with 10:10 to play. But Ryan Anderson's 3-pointer on the Magic's next possession put them back up by a point and started a 13-0 run that made it 79-68 with 5:50 remaining.
The Nets trimmed the lead to 81-76 with 3:18 left. After a basket by Morrow made it 83-78 a few trips later, New Jersey began putting Howard on the foul line before the 2-minute mark. Howard hit two of his next four attempts and a 3-pointer by Chris Duhon off a rebound pushed the Magic's lead back to 88-80 and helped put the game away.
Orlando started the night slow before rallying to take a 48-38 lead into halftime. Howard and Bass had a field day offensively in the half, combining for 25 of the Magic's points. They also shot 52 percent from the floor and held a 22-12 edge on points in the paint.
But they also lost starting point guard Jameer Nelson to a sprained left knee. He left in the second quarter and did not return.
Outlaw kept the Nets, who played without starting point guard Deron Williams for the fourth straight game, within striking distance with a team-high 10 points. New Jersey struggled from the floor (41 percent), though, and had 10 turnovers.
The Magic led 25-20 after one, but came out of the gate sluggish on the defensive end. They fell into a 7-1 hole and prompted coach Stan Van Gundy to call a timeout. His team responded quickly, going on a 15-4 run that included 11 straight points by Bass.
Bass led all scorers with 12 points in the period, connecting on all five of his field-goal attempts.
Notes: Magic G J.J. Redick (lower abdominal strain) was inactive for the eighth straight game. He was injured March 11 and had been making progress, but Van Gundy said he reaggravated it Thursday during a workout. 'It's not anything that the MRI shows will need surgery or anything. It's just a matter of him taking the time,' Van Gundy said. 'I know it's frustrating that it's taken this long, but it's not something that you want to mess around with. We'd obviously love to have him back, but at the same time, we don't want to take any chances.' Van Gundy said they hope to have Redick back by April 1. ... Magic G Quentin Richardson (back spasms) also was inactive. ... Nets coach Avery Johnson said Williams will likely miss at least two more games with a strained tendon in his right wrist. He is averaging 15 points and 13 assists with the Nets since being traded from Utah last month. ... Magic executive Pat Williams, who announced he had been diagnosed with blood disease last month, was in attendance.