Orlando star Dwight Howard scored 21 points with 23 rebounds Friday to lead the Magic to a 92-80 NBA victory over the struggling Los Angeles Lakers. 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 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 percent 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. “We're struggling offensively, no question about it,” said Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, who scored 30 points on 11-of-22 shooting and handed out eight assists. 76ers 90, Hawks 76: Jrue Holiday had 16 points and 11 assists, and Thaddeus Young scored 20 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a fine win over the Atlanta Hawks. Andre Iguodala scored 11 points and Elton Brand grabbed 16 rebounds to help the 76ers win for the ninth time in 11 games and improve to 7-1 at home. Nuggets 108, Wizards 104: Al Harrington scored a season-high 29 points, and Danilo Gallinari and Ty Lawson each had 21 to lead the Denver Nuggets over the Washington Wizards. It was the fifth win in six games for the Nuggets, who played without Nene due to a bruised right heel. He's expected back Saturday in New York. Trail Blazers 94, Raptors 84: LaMarcus Aldridge had a season-high 33 points and a career-best 23 rebounds, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Raptors to hand Toronto its seventh consecutive loss. Raymond Felton scored 14 points, and Marcus Camby and Gerald Wallace each had 10 rebounds as Portland won its seventh straight over Toronto. Suns 79, Celtics 71: Marcin Gortat scored 24 points with 12 rebounds and Steve Nash had 11 points and nine assists to lead the Phoenix Suns to a victory over the Boston Celtics. The Suns won their second straight after a five-game losing streak. Grizzlies 98, Pistons 81: Rudy Gay scored 24 points and the streaking Memphis Grizzlies held off a second-half rally by Detroit to beat the Pistons. Bulls 114, Cavaliers 75: Luol Deng scored 21 points, Carlos Boozer added 19 and 14 rebounds, and the Chicago Bulls managed easily without superstar Derrick Rose, embarrassing the Cleveland Cavaliers. Rose missed his third straight game with a strained left big toe. Bucks 100, Knicks 86: Brandon Jennings scored a season-high 36 points, and the Milwaukee Bucks won on the road for the first time this season by beating the New York Knicks. Other results: Kings 88, Spurs 86; Pacers 94, Warriors 91; Twins 101, Clippers.
