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Dwight Howard

December 18, 2010. That was the date that saw the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic consummate a trade which sent Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Earl Clark from the Suns to the Magic for Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus and Marcin Gortat.

It just so happened that Sunday, March 12, 2011 was a date these two teams would remember, as well, as they got together for a game at US Airways, with Phoenix in the #9 spot in the Western Conference while Orlando is safely at #4 in the East.

The Magic took over in the third quarter, shutting down the Suns’ shooting opportunities and getting key baskets by Dwight Howard. Orlando would cruise for the remaining 2 minutes, thrashing Phoenix 111-88.

The Suns would be without the services of Steve Nash, who was out with what was described as ‘pelvic instability”; Aaron Brooks would replace Nash in the Phoenix starting lineup.

A Gilbert Arenas 3-pointer capped a 13-1 run that put the Magic ahead 49-36 with 5:56 left in the first half; Carter drained a trey, Brooks hit a 7-foot runner and Gortat made a 15-footer as the shot clock expired in a 7-0 spurt that cut the Suns’ deficit to 54-48 with 4:09 left in the second quarter.

But Howard answered back with a 13-footer, then converted a 3-point play, and the Magic would go to their locker room with a 61-52 advantage at the break.

Phoenix was manhandled in the third, being outscored by a 2-to-1 margin (26-13), their second-lowest scoring period of the season. Orlando finished out the period on an 11-1 run – five of those points by Howard - and going into the fourth quarter ahead 87-65. A Howard basket in the period gave him 10,000 points in his career.

The Suns would not mount any serious challenge in the remaining 12 minutes of the game.

Seven Magic players scored in double-digits, led by Howard with a game-high 26 points, along with 15 rebounds, a steal and 5 blocks while Brandon Bass added 17 with 6 rebounds, an assist and a steal. Arenas came off the bench to chip in 16 with 5 rebounds, an assist and 3 steals while Jameer Nelson poured in 14 (including three 3-pointers) with 2 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal.

The Suns were led by Brooks with 19 points, along with 2 rebounds, 10 assists and a steal while Pietrus added 14 (including three treys) with 3 rebounds and 2 steals. Gortat chipped in 12 with 4 rebounds, an assist and a block.

Both teams return to action on Monday when Orlando (42-25) makes the short flight to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers while Phoenix (33-31) flies east to Houston to face the Rockets.