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From Orlando Sentinel

Magic 109, Nuggets 98

Dwight Howard responds to Van Gundy's criticism with a monster game

Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer
February 14, 2008

Dwight Howard was again laughing after a basketball game, saying, "They want me to wear a Superman cape."

Howard was talking about a costume idea for his participation in the slam-dunk contest during the upcoming NBA All-Star Weekend. But he certainly looked like he could leap and dunk over tall buildings in the Magic's 109-98 victory against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night at Amway Arena.

Motivated by being benched and then criticized by Coach Stan Van Gundy after the Magic's previous game, Howard played like the all-star starter he is -- and the "possessed monster" Nuggets Coach George Karl feared he'd see.

Howard concentrated on exactly what Van Gundy thought was missing. He responded with a season-high 24 rebounds, 23 points and two blocks as the Magic pulled away in the final quarter and headed into the all-star break at 33-21.

"His effort was tremendous and it's the difference in the game," Van Gundy said.

He had called out Howard after the Magic's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night, their spat becoming water-cooler talk of the town.

Van Gundy sat him for a two-minute stretch after Howard made a remark -- apparently about not getting the ball enough -- and the fiery coach later added, "We have a little bit of a conflict."

He was irate because he had been trying to push Howard to focus more on defense and rebounding -- the team's priorities -- and not so much on scoring.

Van Gundy said he wasn't trying to "light a fire" under Howard, but the 22-year-old center burned bright immediately. "I think it did get under his skin a little bit," forward Brian Cook said.

Howard set the intense, aggressive tone with eight points, seven rebounds and two blocks -- all in the first quarter.

"You could tell right away he was serious about this game," forward Rashard Lewis said. "Dwight wanted to knock that chip off his shoulder."

Howard scored six of the Magic's first eight points.

"Coach said what he had to say. He felt I wasn't focused in the right areas," Howard said. "So I just came back and played as hard as I could.

"Knowing Stan, the main thing is that he's not going to let me be mediocre. He's going to continue to push me every day to get better. I don't fault Stan for what he did; he just wants to see the best out of me."

It was Howard's first 20-rebound game in 12 games. The Magic needed more than Howard on a night little went right, from their 18 turnovers to Hedo Turkoglu's foul trouble to Mo Evans' third-quarter ejection for arguing foul calls.

Oh, and the Magic's defense had to slow the 32-20 Nuggets, who feature Carmelo Anthony (32 points) and Allen Iverson (21).

Turkoglu finished with 18 points, including 12 in the final quarter, as the Magic's go-to guy came through.

Lewis scored 14 of his 25 points in the third period, highlighting an 18-6 run that gave the Magic a 76-69 cushion heading into the final quarter. Cook scored a season-high of 18 points.

Orlando dug in defensively as Keyon Dooling -- back from a foot injury -- clamped down on Iverson, who was 0-for-4 in the third and finished hitting just 5-of-16 shots.

Howard reclaimed the NBA rebounding lead from Nuggets center Marcus Camby -- 14.6 to Camby's 14.1. Camby had just eight rebounds.

Howard recorded his sixth 20-point, 20-rebound game of the season and 12th 20-20 in his career.

"He will never have to question my effort again," Howard said of Van Gundy.

Van Gundy said, "I think the words had to come a little louder to change his thinking. I said all along he wants to do it right and he wants to win. . . . It's not like Stan Van Gundy's a motivational genius and got Dwight to play."

Whatever, tugging on Superman's cape worked.


Brian Schmitz can be reached at bschmitz@orlandosentinel.com.

Copyright © 2008, Orlando Sentinel

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