PHOENIX, Arizona (AFP) - Dwight Howard Orlando reached a milestone marking the NBA on Sunday, but he was happier to finally get out of Phoenix with a win.Magic has a long history of losing to the Suns, Arizona, dating back to November 2001 - when Howard is only 15 years.
"I had not won here since I'm in the NBA, so it was our goal together," said Howard, "to get a good victory."
He did his part, delivering 26 points with 15 rebounds and five blocked shots. Howard sat the fourth quarter watching from the bench as the Magic completed a 111-88 victory.
For good measure, Howard has surpassed 10,000 career points with a little hook on Robin Lopez in the third quarter, but the stage was very important to him.
"I never look at the points," Howard said. "Rebounds and blocks are what win games for me."
Magic Six other players had two points, led by Brandon Bass 17 and Gilbert Arenas 16
But Magic coach Stan Van Gundy noted that Sun was a "completely different team" without veteran point guard Steve Nash, who missed the contest with what the team called "watershed approach".
Aaron Brooks in place by Nash 19 points and 10 assists.
Aaron Brooks was very good today. He scored a lot, but Steve Nash makes the whole world, everybody plays, "Van Gundy said." We were fortunate that we've played twice without Steve Nash and is a completely different ball game. "
Even so, it was a morale building win at Orlando on Monday before the match against two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.
Orlando had lost three or four, most recently, a 123-120 overtime loss to Golden State on Friday.
But they dominated the depleted Suns, who are 0-3 without Nash this season.
The defeat meant Phoenix could not lay down the possibility of moving in a half-game of the day before the Memphis Grizzlies for the eighth and final postseason in the Western Conference.
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