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Magic dominate Hornets

By Staff | Dec 26, 2008

ORLANDO (AP) – Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 points to lead the Orlando Magic to an 88-68 win over the New Orleans Hornets Thursday in a matchup of division leaders.

David West had 13 points for New Orleans. Chris Paul and Devin Brown each added 12.

Paul, the NBA steals leader (3.7 average), snapped his league-record string of 108 games with at least one.

Dwight Howard had 12 points and 15 rebounds in Southeast-leading Orlando’s sixth-straight win. Rashard Lewis added 18 points and Jameer Nelson 14.

The Magic led by as many as 31 points early in the third quarter. The Hornets did not get closer than 19 points the rest of the game.

New Orleans came in off a 13-point home loss to the Lakers Tuesday. With backup point guard Antonio Daniels still sidelined, Paul has had to play nearly all the minutes.

Paul and most of the starters came out early in the fourth quarter with the Magic up by at least 20 to rest for Friday’s home game against Houston.

With Peja Stojakovic also out for the fourth straight game with back spasms, the Hornets were weak up front, and the Magic took advantage. Lewis hit four of five shots, including both threes, in the first quarter.

Hornets center Tyson Chandler drew two fouls in the first six minutes.

Howard had three blocks and was called for goaltending twice as Orlando built a lead that grew to 29-14 at the end of the first quarter. Paul had eight points to keep New Orleans in the game.

Fueled by a pair of threes by Nelson and six straight points by Howard, including a rousing putback dunk, Orlando went on a 22-4 run to take a 59-29 lead with just over two minutes left in the first half.