Magic make NBA-record 23 3s in rout of Kings

SACRAMENTO, Calif.(AP) Even the guys at the
end of the bench were making 3-pointers on a record-setting night for
the Orlando Magic.Seldom-used Jeremy Richardson's lone basket
proved the most memorable Tuesday night, a 3-pointer with 2:20 left in
the fourth quarter that gave the Magic an NBA-record 23 3s in a 139-107
victory over the Sacramento Kings.The Magic made 23 of 37
attempts (62 percent) in breaking the old mark of 21, set by Toronto on
March 13, 2005, against Philadelphia. Orlando rang up its highest point
total since scoring 152 at Milwaukee on Feb. 20, 1995."I knew it
was close to a record, but I really didn't know, I just took the
shot,'' Richardson said in a jovial Orlando locker room. "It was a
great record for the team, I was just happy to play and be a part of
it.''The Magic proved unstoppable from the perimeter in part
because Dwight Howard was so dominant inside. Despite spending the
entire fourth quarter on the bench, Howard had 25 points and 15
rebounds in helping Orlando win its fifth straight game and improve to
an NBA-best 15-5 on the road.Jameer Nelson made all five 3-point
attempts and had 23 points and 11 assists, Rashard Lewis scored 19
points, Hedo Turkoglu contributed 17 points and eight assists, and J.J.
Redick added 15 points."No disrespect to the other team, but
we're excited about getting the record, an NBA record,'' Nelson said.
"Everyone is going to have trouble guarding the 3 against us because
Dwight is so tough to stop in the middle.''Kevin Martin scored
30 points for the Kings, who allowed a season-high point total.
Francisco Garcia scored 15 points, Spencer Hawes had 14 and Bobby
Jackson added 13."It's going to be a tough time sleeping
tonight, but tomorrow we have to put this behind us,'' Garcia said.
"That's the price you pay. We weren't playing any defense.''That
was evident from the start. Showing no letdown coming off a big road
win Sunday in San Antonio, the Magic shot 62 percent in the opening
half, when they never cooled off during an impressive offensive showing
that resulted in a 75-56 lead.Orlando had the listless Kings
defense to thank as well. Open shots were everywhere in the half, when
the Magic went a staggering 13-of-19 from 3-point range in establishing
new franchise records for 3-pointers and total points in a half."We
won't come out like that again,'' Martin said. "It's time to make
people accountable because that was just embarrassing to me. We are a
joke right now, that's how people look at us. They just keep launching
3s away. You should be pretty angry about that.''The 3-point
barrage continued in the third quarter. Nelson connected on a pair in
the first 80 seconds and the Magic made seven overall in hiking their
lead to 107-85 heading into the fourth.It felt a little like old
times to Turkoglu, who broke into the NBA as a reserve when the Kings
were putting up big offensive numbers and regularly posting lopsided
wins from 2001 to 2003."It actually did feel (like one of those
Kings games),'' Turkoglu said. "But I'm with the Magic now and we're
playing really well. We felt really hot tonight and we broke the
record.''Orlando improved to 16-4 this season against the
Western Conference. The Magic continue a four-game road trip Friday
against the Lakers and meet Denver on Saturday.The loss was the 12th in 14 games for the Kings, who have not strung together two straight victories since early November.The
Kings had no answer in the opening half for the athletic Howard, whose
most impressive feat was an alley-oop dunk with his back to the basket.
He scored 15 points and had 11 rebounds against an array of Sacramento
defenders. Lewis and Redick both had 12 points for Orlando, which
outscored the Kings 41-29 in the opening half.Notes: Redick
connected on four 3-pointers in the first half and two fans in the
lower level repeatedly stood and chanted his name after each basket.
The Kings are now 7-13 at Arco Arena and are on pace to have their
worst home record in franchise history. Kenny Thomas made a rare
appearance for the Kings, playing his fifth game this season and going
scoreless in three minutes.