USA - Turkoglu makes Magic’s troubles disappear

ORLANDO (NBA) - Turkey international Hedo Turkoglu made sure the Orlando Magic didn’t miss Grant, scoring 22 points to lead them to a 119-86 pounding of the New Jersey Nets.

With Hill lost to yet another injury - a sprained left knee that will keep him out up to three weeks - Turkoglu led seven players in double figures as Serbia’s Darko Milicic scored 14 points and rookie JJ Redick added 13 off the bench.

Dwight Howard scored 19 points.

"Me, Turk, and Jameer (Nelson) had a little talk this morning at the shoot-around," Howard said. 

"We've got to step up, us three guys, because the leader of this team is out and (we need) to be aggressive, going to the basket."

Orlando closed the first quarter on an 18-6 run, capped by Nelson's jumper with two seconds remaining, for a 29-15 lead.

The Magic continued the onslaught in the second period, using a 16-7 run highlighted by a three-pointer from Nelson for a 50-30 edge with three minutes left.

The Nets never threatened thereafter.

Vince Carter led the way with 25 points for New Jersey, who shot 45% (33 of 74) but converted just 14 of 26 free throws. Nets All-Star guard Jason Kidd was held scoreless for the first time since March 15, 2006 against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Spain’s Jose Calderon and Slovenia’s Rasho Nesterovic came up big as the Toronto Raptors kept up their impressive run with a 103-91 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

Team USA international Chris Bosh led the way with 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, while Morris Peterson added 21 off the bench.

Calderon scored 14 and Calderon had 12, while Italian rookie Andrea Bargnani, who was the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in January, added 11 points off the bench.

Joe Johnson scored 28 points and Josh Smith added 26 for Atlanta, who had won four of their previous five.

With superstar guard Allen Iverson missing a second consecutive game with an ankle injury, Brazil international Nene helped make the difference in a 114-107 overtime win for the Denver Nuggets over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Team USA captain Carmelo Anthony led the way with 33 points and Nene added 20 as the Nuggets snapped a four-game losing streak.

Zach Randolph scored 25 points and Brandon Roy added 22 for Portland.

Great Britain international Luol Deng scored 27 points and Team USA guard Kirk Hinrich added 20 and nine assists as the Bulls posted a 107-101 triumph over the Seattle SuperSonics.

Argentina’s Andres Nocioni chipped in with 14 points for the Bulls, who recorded their first win over a Western Conference opponent since December 1 and improved to just 7-14 on the road.

Ray Allen scored 29 points to lead the Sonics.

Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton showed why they are All-Stars, combining for 38 points in a 96-86 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

All five starters finished in double figures as Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince scored 14 apiece and Chris Webber had 12.

Billups had 20 and Hamilton 18.

Australia’s Andrew Bogut was on the losing end, scoring 21 points and grabbing 13 rebounds to lead the Bucks.

LeBron James shrugged off a toe injury to collect 18 points and 10 rebounds in a 101-81 win for the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Charlotte Bobcats.

Gerald Wallace led the Bobcats with 16 points.

Danny Granger and Darrell Armstrong sparked a fourth-quarter surge that lifted the Indiana Pacers to a 95-84 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jermaine O'Neal scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds and Jamaal Tinsley added 16 and six assists for Indiana, who held Kobe Bryant to 22 points on seven of 25 shooting from the field.

Granger and Armstrong scored 14 points each for the Pacers, who outscored the Lakers, 32-14, in the final period for their fifth straight home triumph.

The Boston Celtics sank to their franchise-record 14th straight loss as they went down 100-89 to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Elton Brand had 26 points and a season-high 19 rebounds to lead the victors.

Al Harrington nailed a driving layup with 1.2 seconds left to lead the Golden State Warriors to a thrilling 102-101 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers, snapping a six-game road losing streak.

Chris Paul scored 24 points and handed out eight assists as the New Orleans Hornets posted a 90-83 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Ian Parker
FIBA