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Howard helps Magic in 102-83 win over Pacers – Metro US

Howard helps Magic in 102-83 win over Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS – Ryan Anderson had 24 points and eight rebounds to lead the Orlando Magic to a 102-83 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night.

Dwight Howard had 14 points and nine rebounds and became the Magic’s all-time leading scorer. He came in needing just eight points to break the record. Howard picked up his third foul early in the second quarter and sat for most of the first half.

Anderson shot 8 for 14 from the field, including 5 for 7 on three-pointers,

Danny Granger and Roy Hibbert scored 16 points each and Hibbert also had 12 rebounds for the Pacers (11-5), who returned home after winning two of three on a West Coast trip.

Quentin Richardson added 15 points and Glen Davis had 13 for the Magic. Orlando broke away in an 8-0 run midway through the third quarter and a 7-0 run later in the period, and extended the lead to as much as 20 points in the fourth.

Howard was two points away from breaking the scoring record before he picked up his second foul and went to the bench midway through the first quarter.

It was a tough stretch for Howard who turned the ball over, missed a shot and then got called for a foul.

The Pacers were in the middle of a 10-0 run as Granger made two 3s and Hibbert — wearing a mast to protect a broken nose suffered Sunday against the Lakers — had the other two baskets.

Howard didn’t enter the game again until the start of the second quarter, but was pulled just 24 seconds into the period after he was called for his third foul.

Davis scored seven points in the first half in Howard’s place, but the Pacers built a 10-point lead and the Magic had a tough time regaining the lead. They did it late in the second quarter when the Magic went on a 10-0 run of their and took the lead on a three-pointer by Anderson.

Darren Collison answered Anderson’s three with a jumper to tie the score at 41. Earl Clark scored on a dunk, then Indiana’s David West tied it again on a jumper.

Clark scored again, then Hibbert tied the game on a putback.

The Pacers didn’t regain the lead, but tied it at 45 at halftime.

Howard finally became the Magic’s all-time leading scorer on a dunk at the 10:05 mark in the third quarter, his eight point of the game.

The Magic went on to build a 21 lead in the fourth quarter. They led by 12 at the end of the third after Orlando went on an 8-0 run midway through the period to take a 60-54 lead.

Indiana got back within four, but then the Magic went on a 7-0 run to extend the lead again.