Howard Has 20-20 Game As Magic Put Spell On Raptors; Win Game One 114-100

Dwight Howard decided to pay a visit Sunday to the most exclusive fraternity in the NBA, the “20-20 Club”, point guard Jameer Nelson dominated his counterpart TJ Ford, and the Orlando Magic shot 53.2% (41-77) from the floor for the game. The Magic totally dominated the Toronto Raptors in the?opening game of the first round NBA Playoff Series 114-100.?

This game easily could have been a whole lot uglier for Toronto, had the Magic not?eased off the accelerator in the second quarter. When you score 23 points as a team in the first quarter, that’s a respectable amount, not great but certainly not tragic. You don’t expect to be out scored by your opponent, by 20 points, but Toronto was, and Orlando did as they led at the end of the period 43-23! Orlando basically?kicked back in the second quarter, the result was they led at the half 60-47.? Toronto remained?competitive in the second half as they got the lead down to 10 by the end of the third with the Magic ahead 85-75. But they were coming from too far behind after the Orlando onslaught in the opening period.

Howard once again had a game where he reached or exceeded 20 points, and 20 rebounds, as he scored a game high 25 points, grabbed 22 boards, 5 blocks 2 assists, 1 steal.? When I broke down the first round series in my column NBA First Round Predictions From Slam Dunk Central Editor Jeff Sack?I wrote this as the Key Match-up: T.J. Ford vs Jameer Nelson What?Toronto needs to do to win this series: Orlando has one of the top two or three centers in the Association in Dwight Howard. Turkoglu and Lewis have been a terrific tandem all season. Where the Magic?s weak link is their backcourt. Stan Van Gundy keeps rotating his starting point guard mainly between Nelson and Carlos Arroyo, if Ford and Jose Calderon can come up big it increases their chances.? What?Orlando needs to do to win this series: Chris Bosh will get his, you have to give him his propers, and concentrate on Nesterovic and Moon.?Nelson, Arroyo or Keyon Dooling do not have to score but they do have to be able to distribute the ball.? Jameer Nelson and Keyon Dooling outscored T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon 34-14. Nelson scored 24 points, 7 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, Hedo Turkoglu scored 21 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds. Maurice Evans?had a nice game scoring 14 points, 2 rebounds, Rashard Lewis scored 13 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block. Keyon Dooling scored 10 points, 1 assist.

Anthony Parker paced the Raptors as he scored 24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals. Chris Bosh scored 21 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists, Jason Kapono scored 18 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal. Rasho Nesterovic scored 16 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block. Orlando now leads the first round series 1-0.