NBA – Turkoglu has that Magic touch again

ORLANDO (NBA) - Hedo Turkoglu helped the Orlando Magic reach the 2009 NBA Finals.

After playing for two different teams since – Toronto last season and Phoenix until the third week of December 2010 - Turkoglu is back in Orlando following a major trade and on Monday night, he had a triple-double as the Magic beat the visiting Golden State Warriors, 110-90.

A member of the all-tournament team at the FIBA World Championship last year after helping host nation Turkey reach the gold-medal game, Turkoglu finished with 10 points, 10 assists and 14 rebounds.

Team USA's Dwight Howard had 22 points and 17 rebounds and Jason Richardson poured in 20 points as the Magic improved to 22-12 and dropped the Warriors to 13-21.

"I'm glad I finally did something to help this team win," said Turkoglu.

"When I have the ball in my hands, I'm able to do the things I'm good at.

“My strength is to be the guy who is a facilitator, get my shot or find one for my teammates."

Turkoglu is averaging nine boards per game since his return to Orlando.

The early season struggles of the new-look Miami Heat are well and truly behind them with the club thrashing the Bobcats in Charlotte 96-82 for their ninth triumph in 10 games.

Team USA's Beijing Olympics stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are making the Heat look like the best team in the Eastern Conference.

James had 38 points and nine rebounds against Charlotte and Wade contributed 31 points and 11 boards.

"We're having a blast," James said.

"We're having a good time. We're playing good basketball."

Bosh added 11 points and four rebounds as Miami improved to 27-9 and dropped Charlotte to 11-21.

Charlotte, who recently replaced Larry Brown with former Charlotte Hornets coach Paul Silas, lost their Senegalese center DeSagana Diop for the season because of a ruptured right Achilles tendon in their recent defeat to Golden State.

The Boston Celtics are sure glad Rajon Rondo is healthy again because the point guard had 16 assists to go with his six points in a 96-93 victory over visiting Minnesota.

Rondo missed seven games in December with a sprained ankle.

Paul Pierce poured in 23 points and Ray Allen 20 for Boston (26-7) while Team USA's recently-crowned world champion Kevin Love had 24 rebounds to go with his 12 points for Minnesota (9-26).

David West scored 17 points to lead New Orleans to an 84-77 home success against Philadelphia.

Denver got 33 points from Carmelo Anthony in a 113-106 win over Houston.

Team USA's Deron Williams had 22 points and 10 assists and Paul Millsap 15 along with 10 rebounds in a 102-97 victory over Detroit.

The New York Knicks (19-14), meanwhile, have the sixth best record in the Eastern Conference after a strong finish to 2010 but they will be without the services of Danilo Gallinari for two to three weeks.

The Italian sharpshooter sprained his left knee in Sunday's game against Indiana.

FIBA