BASKETBALL / NBA: Howard leads Magic over struggling Lakers

ORLANDO: Orlando star Dwight Howard scored 21 points with 23 rebounds on Friday to lead the Magic to a 92-80 NBA victory over the struggling Los Angeles Lakers.

Orlando star Dwight Howard (right).

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   Howard, who early in this lockout-shortened season made it clear he wanted to be traded, with the Lakers one of his possible destinations, delivered a solid performance to drop the Lakers to 1-6 on the road.

   "We're a little raggedy right now," Lakers coach Mike Brown said. "We're a little tired."

    Just as they did in a defeat in Miami on Thursday, the Lakers endured a miserable shooting night, missing 23 of their first 28 shots.

   They scored just 10 points in the first quarter and shot 38.2 per cent overall.

   It marked their ninth straight game of less than 100 points, the third-longest such streak in club history since the shot-clock was introduced in 1954.

   RESULTS: Philadelphia 90 Atlanta 76, Portland 94 Toronto  84, Denver 108 Washington 104, Chicago 114 Cleveland 75,      Milwaukee 100 NY Knicks 86, Memphis 98 Detroit 81,      Phoenix 79 Boston 71, Orlando 92 LA Lakers 80, Sacramento    88 San Antonio 86, Indiana 94 Golden State 91, Minnesota    101 LA Clippers 98. AFP