Magic trim Hornets, remain unbeaten on the road

Dwight Howard had 24 points and 15 rebounds, while Rashard Lewis scored 19 as the Magic trimmed the short-handed New Orleans Hornets 95-88 on Monday night for a franchise-record seventh straight road win without a loss.

 After handing the Boston Celtics their first loss of the season on Sunday, the weary Magic travelled to the "Big Easy," and made it across the finish line, despite blowing a 21-point second-quarter cushion.

 "It was a hard fought win against Boston, but we dug down deep in our gut and found a way to pull out the win tonight," said Lewis, who knocked down five three-pointers. "We got tired, but our defence kept us in the game."

   The Magic's milestone victory snapped the five-game winning streak of the Western Conference-leading Hornets, who were playing their second straight game without starting point guard Chris Paul (ankle sprain).

 To make matters worse, they lost centre Tyson Chandler in the second period to a hyper-extended right knee.

 "I'm not trying to take credit away from our guys, but I try to be realistic," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "The way we played tonight probably wouldn't have been enough with Chris Paul and Tyson Chandler. So if you're looking for a reason why we won tonight, that's it."

   Jameer Nelson tossed in 16 points, Turkey's Hedo Turkoglu and reserve Keyon Dooling added 15 apiece for Orlando (10-2) which used a 22-10 closing run en route to its fifth consecutive victory.

 Peja Stojakovic fired in 21 points, Jannero Pargo, filling in for Paul, had 18 and David West added 14 for the Hornets (9-3) who entered the game with the best start in franchise history.

 The Hornets fell behind by 21 points early in the second quarter before trimming the deficit to 53-43 at half-time.

 Trailing by two entering the final frame, they opened with a 10-3 burst to go ahead 78-73 on a basket by Morris Peterson with just over six minutes remaining.

 The Magic responded, however. Lewis and Turkoglu each buried three-pointers to highlight a pivotal 16-6 burst to put the visitors ahead, 89-84 with 1:25 left.

 After a jumper by West drew the Hornets to within 89-86, Nelson made a jumper and Howard rejected Pargo's layup attempt at the other end. Nelson and Dooling each sank a pair of free throws to seal the victory.

 Elsewhere:

   Gerald Wallace scored 27 points and Jason Richardson had 20 of his 24 in the second half as the Bobcats kept the Trail Blazers winless on the road after seven games.

 Raymond Felton contributed 24 points and 10 assists for the Bobcats, whose 6-4 record is the best through 10 games in the team's four-year history.

 Jarrett Jack scored 18 points off the bench and Brandon Roy had 17 for Portland (4-6) which dropped its fourth in a row.

 Memphis Grizzlies 125, Seattle Supersonics 108

   Stromile Swift poured in a season-high 24 points and Mike Miller had 19 to lead seven teammates in double figures as the host Grizzlies ended a three-game slide.

 Damon Stoudamire and Hakim Warrick added 16 points apiece while Spain's Pau Gasol finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and seven blocks for the Grizzlies (3-7), who beat the Sonics for the second time this season.

 Delonte West led Seattle (2-10) with 17 points and Chris Wilcox had 16.

 Utah Jazz 102, New Jersey Nets 75

   Deron Williams scored 20 points, Carlos Boozer had 17 and the Jazz sent the slumping Nets to their sixth consecutive loss.

 Turkey's Mehmet Okur and Ronnie Brewer added 14 points apiece for host Utah (8-4), which stopped a modest two-game skid.

 Richard Jefferson scored 22 points and Bostjan Nachbar had a season-high 16 for the Nets (4-7) who played their fifth consecutive game without injured All-Star swingman Vince Carter (right ankle sprain).

By Paul Levine, dpa