Howard, Anderson help Magic rout Suns 122-100

By ANTONIO GONZALEZ, Associated Press Writer Nov 4, 10:29 pm EST

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)—Ryan Anderson(notes) admits he’s been joking with Rashard Lewis(notes) about who will be the Orlando Magic’s starting power forward when the All-Star returns from suspension.

For now, it’s no joke: Anderson is filling in just fine.

Anderson had 20 and 10 rebounds, Dwight Howard(notes) scored 25 and the short-handed Orlando Magic defeated the previously unbeaten Phoenix Suns 122-100 on Wednesday night.

“How can I control it? I can’t do much more than what I’m doing now,” Anderson said about the starting spot. “I have a great opportunity to play now. Of course, it’s Rashard Lewis. It’s a given he’s going to play. He’s an All-Star. He’s going to help this team when he comes back. It will be great to even be his backup.”

Playing without injured Vince Carter(notes) and Lewis, the Magic built a 23-point lead in the third quarter to pull away from the Suns.

Amare Stoudemire finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds for Phoenix (4-1), which was looking to match the 1984-85 team for the franchise’s best start. The Suns had come back from deficits in the first half but never did come close after the Magic built a big lead late.

“Well, dreams of an undefeated season have gone down,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said.

Jameer Nelson(notes) added 16 points, and Mickael Pietrus(notes) had 15 points for the Magic. And they did it despite Carter missing the game with a sprained left ankle that coach Stan Van Gundy said doesn’t appear serious, while Lewis is suspended for the first 10 games after testing positive for an elevated level of testosterone.

Van Gundy said he was impressed how Anderson came off his only poor performance this season Tuesday night, when he was 1 for 11 from 3-point range.

But he has said from the beginning of the season that Lewis will start when he returns. Anderson, who came over in the trade with Carter from New Jersey this summer, is only giving Orlando an added and perhaps overlooked piece.

“I’ve coached for a long time in a lot of different levels, and I’ve complained about a lot of things. I never recall myself upset or complaining that I have too many good players,” Van Gundy said. “There the ones it will be tough on, not me. It will be easier on me. I’ll have more options.”

The Magic turned a close game into a blowout.

Led by a powerful performance by its front court, Orlando opened the third quarter with a 16-4 spurt. Howard and Anderson were slicing through the paint for dunks, and their dominant play inside opened up shots on the perimeter that Orlando—at times—couldn’t seem to miss.

The Magic shot 52.2 percent from 3-point range and 52.3 percent from the field for the game. But they didn’t get much resistance.

The Suns started slow for the second straight night.

Orlando used a flurry of 3-pointers, including a pair by Anderson, to take a 14-point lead in the first quarter that didn’t last long. The Magic started missing, the Suns started running—as they so often do—and ended the period on a 12-2 run that tightened the gap to 29-25.

That seemed to be the early pattern.

The Magic’s starters returned in the second quarter and, at first, hardly missed. That potent 3-point attack was in full force, with J.J. Redick(notes) and Pietrus connecting to open up an 11-point lead.

“I think they were pretty upset about the loss in Detroit the night before,” Stoudemire said. “They came out and pretty much took it out on us.”

Howard picked up his third foul with 4:46 remaining in the half after he got tangled up with Jarron Collins(notes) underneath the basket. Then Howard picked up a technical foul for arguing.

Steve Nash(notes) and Stoudemire had the fast pace, pick-and-roll offense going strong early. And the pair helped the Suns trim Orlando’s halftime lead to 58-52 with Howard on the bench.

In defense of his player, Van Gundy said the NBA has always treated perimeter players like Cleveland’s LeBron James(notes) and Miami’s Dwyane Wade(notes) differently.

“We don’t let people bang on them like that,” Van Gundy said. “I think there’s a double standard on the way they call it. My personal thing is I think the league loves the perimeter play and is not so fond of inside play. But with all that said, and those are just my opinions, Dwight knows how the game is called and he’s just got to deal with it.”

NOTES: Phoenix played without Leandro Barbosa(notes), who has battled a sore right wrist since the summer. … Pietrus returned to the lineup after missing the last two games with flu-like symptoms. He came off the bench in place of Matt Barnes(notes).

Updated Nov 4, 10:29 pm EST
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Sat Nov 28, 2009, 9:00 pm EST

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47 Comments

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  1. richard s
    47. Posted by richard s Fri Nov 6 3:57am EST

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    Good!
  2. The Drinker
    46. Posted by The Drinker Fri Nov 6 12:34am EST

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    Post #44-@#$%,

    The Magic Will Get Blown Out By Detroit Next Game.

    "CHEERS"
  3. The Drinker
    45. Posted by The Drinker Thu Nov 5 11:49pm EST

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    Post #44-@#$%,

    The Magic Will Get Blown Out My Detroit Next Game.

    "CHEERS"
  4. fang
    44. Posted by fang Thu Nov 5 11:29pm EST

    Report Abuse

    43. Posted by The Drinker Thu Nov 5 10:45pm EST Report Abuse
    The Magic Can't Ball....The Deepest Team In The League?(Yea,The Little League).

    And Stan Has Less Of A Clue About Basketball Then His Brother Does.

    Sorry Magic Fans,But You Gals Won't Even Make The Playoffs This Year.

    "CHEERS" drinker, you are full of it.
  5. The Drinker
    43. Posted by The Drinker Thu Nov 5 10:45pm EST

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    The Magic Can't Ball....The Deepest Team In The League?(Yea,The Little League).

    And Stan Has Less Of A Clue About Basketball Then His Brother Does.

    Sorry Magic Fans,But You Gals Won't Even Make The Playoffs This Year.

    "CHEERS"
  6. Steven
    42. Posted by Steven Thu Nov 5 6:19pm EST

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    keep thinking you are gonna win the championship this year magic because it won't happen i can guarantee that.
  7. <i>chipmurkle</i>
    41. Posted by chipmurkle Thu Nov 5 3:05pm EST

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    Derrick R:

    "On paper, yes, the Magic has a good lineup. But that does not translate into wins"

    Huh? They won plenty of games last year with a similar line-up. They're off to a great start despite several players being absent.

    The rest of your post consists of "yeah I mean I guess X is an all-star quality player, but X just isn't a winner."

    Not very enlightening. You could've made that argument against Garnett a couple of years ago. You could say the same thing about Kobe before his most recent title.
  8. paa
    40. Posted by paa Thu Nov 5 2:15pm EST

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    Go MAGIC! Stan Van Gundy's boys has taught the Sun's a neat basketball lesson.
  9. Dre
    39. Posted by Dre Thu Nov 5 11:56am EST

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    Go Gators! The real Florida team!!
  10. Derrick R
    38. Posted by Derrick R Thu Nov 5 10:22am EST

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    On paper, yes, the Magic has a good lineup. But that does not translate into wins. We've seen a lot of this kinds of team in the past. But eventually, they fell short of winning it all. ZOMBIE#26, you ask what's wrong with the starting lineup? I'll tell you, for one Vince Carter. I don't know why so many fans think so high of him. Look back on his entire career and you'll see that the guy is just not a winner. He will give you highlights once in a while, but he will not deliver in crunchtime. He will take the shots,of course. But it will be flat jumpshots. The Magics will miss the heroics of Hedo come playoff time. Vince will be Vince. He is just not competitive enough to get to the next level. Sorry. And Nelson? The guy had some good seasons, but I don't think he'll be an impact. He is just too short, and he doesn't make that many three's. Remember how Rafer shot the lights out of the CAVS in the playoffs? Nelson cannot do that come the playoffs. And Dwight Howard. The guy is extremely athletic. But he has no low post skills. He dunks,yes. But he just has so killer move on the post. Kareem Jabbar said it so in the Finals. He can't post and shoot a jumpshot. What more shoot free throws. Sure he dominated Ilgauskus for the guy was slow. But he can't do anything with Gasol and the Lakers help defense in the Finals. He has a lot of improving to do. But I don't think it will happen. He already thinks his that good. So, if you ask me if the Magics were are good as last season? Hell, no. But that's the same for the Cavs. The Celtics are really good this season. And I expect another surprise team rising in the EAST.
  11. Tand T
    37. Posted by Tand T Thu Nov 5 10:15am EST

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    Suns, richardson and hill..... zero points ,,, ??????????????????
  12. Erock
    36. Posted by Erock Thu Nov 5 9:47am EST

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    Who cares who has the deepest team in the league? That only helps you in emergencies and during the regular season. In the playoffs, it is generally your top 8 guys that get the work, the LAkers didn't win last year because they had the deepest team, they won because their best 6 players beat our best 6 players. The important thing is to develop a rotation that is formidable, and right now the most formidable team out there is the Celtics' team. Their top 6-7 is out-defending everyone, and they have plenty of scoring options to go with that defense, the Magic need to find their defensive mojo to think they are going to make it all the way, this trying to outscore the other team instead of shutting the other team down will only lead to playoff collapse.
  13. elth
    35. Posted by elth Thu Nov 5 9:32am EST

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    Zombie #26 - nothing in theory, but Lewis struggles to defend the quicker SFs in the league, but has just the right combination of strength and quickness to deal with most PFs not named Pau Gasol.

    Given the choice, SVG is always going to pick the better defensive matchup.

    Plus if we start Anderson, we still have to try to find minutes for Barnes, Pietrus and Redick off the bench at SF and SG. Either way a good role player isn't getting enough court time.
  14. Michelle S
    34. Posted by Michelle S Thu Nov 5 9:19am EST

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    E.S.-Is there a point to that rambling mess?
  15. E. S.
    33. Posted by E. S. Thu Nov 5 8:07am EST

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    I couldn't help but notice: Orlando Magic player RYAN ANDerSON was born on May 6, 1988. The date was one year to the day before boxer Roy Jones Jr. had his first fight as a professional against Ricky Randall. Of course, a few months after RYAN ANDerSON was born in Sacramento, CA, Roy Jones Jr. was in the international spotlight after he was robbed of a gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.

    NBC had the U.S. television rights to broadcast those games and "Today" show anchor bRYANt GumbEL hosted the network's Olympic coverage in a performance that was largely critically panned.

    RYAN ANDerSON was born 7,050 days after Roy Jones Jr. (b. 1/16/69 in PENsaCOLA, eSCAMbia County, Florida. 70-50=20
  16. BMW
    30. Posted by BMW Thu Nov 5 6:33am EST

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    Magic are not playing bad considering they are missing 2 starters! It would have been interesting to see them try again with Hedo, but they should still be very good. It would have been challenging for them to beat Cav's or the Celtics this season! Right now, it is hard to see them playing Cleveland, but they should be very competitive if NOT better than the Cavaliers. I do not like the match up against LeBron, and Shaq should cause many problems for Howard. But on offense, I don't like the Cavaliers trying to stay with the pick and rolls at all. Shaq and Z are very slow, and it almost seems like they may need to play LeBron at the 4 during stretches, which means Anderson V will not get any hustle plays. Whoever can impose their will the most will win. I think the ref's will put Howard in a lot of foul trouble and that may be the difference. Magic were smart to keep their back up center.
  17. hirvy
    29. Posted by hirvy Thu Nov 5 3:31am EST

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    hey Ken, I don't hate the Magic. Infact i think they have a great team and howard is the best def player in the league. your comment about the suns showing they have a week bench means crap all. the suns bench outscored,outassisted and outrebounded the magic bench so that makes no sense at all. we have a young bench and in a year to come they will be up there.
  18. hirvy
    28. Posted by hirvy Thu Nov 5 3:25am EST

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    i love how people think they know it all and comment on such things as deepest bench and best team and blah blah blah. the game was good to watch even though it became a blowout. Suns have a bench that is young and building but arguably have one of the best starting 5's, atleast in the west. You are all looking at one game out of 82 and have made your mind up. Howard played poorly. sure he scored 25 but had 5 fouls and 5 turnovers and only got 5 rebounds(whats up with that) but they still won. Both teams have injuries,etc and neither team is in peak form.
    It's too early in the season to know who the best is. wait til feb and then your comments will be valid but right now all i can hear is blah blah blah.
  19. lkrkb24
    27. Posted by lkrkb24 Thu Nov 5 3:01am EST

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    im a lakers fan and at the moment it seems like we dont even hav a bench the way they're playing and i know we are missing pau and that lamar will be a bench player but still other teams have way better benches than us our starters do 80% of the work usually anyways
  20. Zombie #26
    26. Posted by Zombie #26 Thu Nov 5 2:40am EST

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    What's wrong with this starting lineup:
    1-nelson
    2-vince
    3-rashard
    4-anderson
    5-dwight
  21. Cunt M
    25. Posted by Cunt M Thu Nov 5 2:12am EST

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    With all due respect to the magic I honestly think their bench is very deep, but not as deep as the celts.

    That is my honest opinion, but we will never know until the finals.
  22. Zach
    24. Posted by Zach Thu Nov 5 1:50am EST

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    Magic = deepest team in the entire NBA...deal with it...just wait till we have our entire team healthy and suspension free
  23. DC
    23. Posted by DC Thu Nov 5 1:19am EST

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    Ken,

    Sorry to say it, but the Lakers bench is better.

    Scratch what I just said. I'm NOT sorry to say it.
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Phoenix
A. Stoudemire Amar'e Stoudemire
10-21,  25 Pts
14 Rebs, 0 Assists
 Orlando
R. Anderson Ryan Anderson
8-14,  20 Pts
10 Rebs, 1 Assists

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