Howard scores career-high 45 in win over Bobcats

ORLANDO, Fla.(AP) Dwight Howard outdid Shaq -
and pretty much everyone else who played in the NBA in the past
three-plus decades.He had a career-high 45 points, to go with 19
rebounds and eight blocks, leading the Orlando Magic to a 107-102
overtime victory against the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday night."Dwight
was unbelievable, unbelievable,'' Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I
mean phenomenal. He just put us on his back. That's leadership right
there, that kind of play on the floor. It kept everyone else
motivated.''Since the NBA started recording blocked shots for
the 1973-74 season, no NBA player ever has had this many points,
rebounds and blocks in the same game, according to the Elias Sports
Bureau.He also tied Shaquille O'Neal's franchise record with his 18th straight double-double."Today,
he had his way,'' Charlotte center Emeka Okafor said. "I have to tip my
hat to him. He had a great game. He just dominated.''The Magic also got 17 points from Rashard Lewis, who joined Howard on the Eastern Conference All-Star team last weekend.J.J. Redick made a 3-pointer with eight seconds left in regulation to tie it and Raymond Felton missed a jumper as time expired.Boris
Diaw made a layup over Howard with 20 seconds remaining and Raja Bell
made two free throws for a 95-92 lead before Redick's tying shot.The
Magic took an early lead in overtime, and never let it go. Redick hit a
free throw for the 105-102 lead. Courtney Lee added two more to clinch
the victory."We really needed this game off the break,'' Howard
said. "When my teammates see me bringing it at both ends every night,
they will do the same. I have to start everything at both ends.''Bell
and Gerald Wallace returned to the Charlotte lineup. Wallace had been
out since Jan 27 with a partially collapsed lung and a fractured rib
and Bell had been out since Feb. 6 with a groin strain.The
Bobcats led through most of the final three periods, opting not to
double-team Howard around the basket. It allowed them to limit the rest
of the Magic until late in the game.Notes: Since Howard joined
the league in 2004, the Magic are 70-36 in games in which he has three
or more blocked shots. They are 133-141 when he has fewer than three
blocks. ... Orlando is 3-3 since losing All-Star point guard Jameer
Nelson to a potentially season-ending torn labrum muscle in his right
shoulder. ... Charlotte led, 50-43 at intermission, riding their early
hot shooting. They opened the second quarter with seven consecutive
points, took a 28-25 lead and didnt trail again until midway in the
third period. ... Howard had 19 points by halftime, but none of his
Magic teammates had more than five in those first 24 minutes. The
Bobcats, by contrast, were much more balanced early with no one in
double-figure scoring, but seven players with four or more points.