Orlando Magic retains lead
Published:Thursday | December 24, 2009 | 12:50 PM
The Orlando Magic retained their lead in the NBA\'s Southeast Division with a comfortable 102-97 win over the Houston Rockets last night.
Dwight Howard had 20 rebounds and 13 points, outmuscling a Rockets team lacking size and strength in the middle in the long-term absence of Yao Ming.
Jameer Nelson added 15 points in his first start for five weeks, helping the Magic win for the fifth time in six games ahead of a big Christmas Day match against the Boston Celtics.
In Miami, the hosts defeated Utah Jazz 80-70 in a game where both sides had their lowest point total of the season.
Other winners last night were Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trailblazers.