• Tweet

• Tweet

An unlikely hero came out of the Orlando Magic-New Orleans Hornets game Friday night: former Chicago Bull Aaron Gray.

Dwight Howard was having his way with the frontcourt of the Hornets when coach Jeff Bower inserted little-used Gray. The maneuver worked as he was able to slow Howard down, allowing New Orleans to rally from 18 points down and defeat Orlando 100-93 at New Orleans Arena.

David West’s basket helped the Hornets gain an eight-point lead and they would settle for a 26-21 lead going into the second quarter. J.J. Redick’s layup helped the Magic take their first lead of the game at 33-32 and would build their lead to double-digits, taking a 56-46 lead into the break.

The third quarter was one in which Howard was effective as a dunk, along with a short hook and free throw helped fuel a 13-2 run, putting Orlando ahead 71-53; Bower would soon bring in Gray and Howard’s offense would drop off markedly. Darren Collison hit a pair of jumpers and West added a 20-footer and an inside basket during a 10-0 Hornets run; New Orleans later pulled to within 75-69 on a West floater.

West would drain a 3-pointer as the shot clock wound down and added a fast-break layup to put the Hornets ahead 81-80 with 8:24 left in the game; the Magic held the lead twice before New Orleans took over for good when Aaron Gray hit a jumper with 3:32 remaining in the contest.

West led the Hornets with a game-high 40 points, 10 rebounds, an assist and 2 blocks while Marcus Thornton came off the bench to add 18 with 7 rebounds, an assist and a steal; Collison chipped in 16 with a rebound, 7 assists and a steal.

Howard led the Magic with 26 points, 10 rebounds, an assist and 3 blocks while Jameer Nelson added 19 with 3 rebounds, 11 assists and a steal; Redick poured in 11 with a rebound.

New Orleans (31-28) plays again on Sunday when they make the short trip to Dallas to face the Mavericks while Orlando (39-20) returns home to host the Mimi Heat – also on Sunday night.