NBA

Magic downs relentless Maccabi

By wire services
Published October 20, 2005

ORLANDO - Steve Francis had 20 points and eight assists and Dwight Howard contributed 14 points to help the Orlando Magic hold off Maccabi Tel Aviv 93-79 Wednesday night.

All-Star Grant Hill left the game in the first quarter with an abdominal strain and didn't return. The Magic said Hill, who scored 10 points in nine minutes, was day-to-day.

Bo Outlaw had 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting and eight rebounds for the Magic, who had to give their top players extended minutes to get the victory over a determined Maccabi team.

Maccabi led by as many as 10 points in the first quarter and trailed only 51-45 at halftime. The European champions took the lead again 56-55 with 6:17 left in the third quarter on a 3-pointer by former University of South Florida star Derrick Sharp.

Orlando outscored Maccabi 18-6 the rest of the period to take a 73-62 lead into the fourth quarter. Maccabi cut the deficit to six with under two minutes to play, but a short jumper by Howard and two free throws by Jameer Nelson put away the game.

Anthony Parker scored 20 points and former Clemson star Will Solomon had 19 for Maccabi, which beat Toronto 105-103 on Sunday.

RAPTORS 107, NETS 105 (OT): Charlie Villanueva had 24 points and Loren Woods had six in overtime for host Toronto. Villanueva tied it at 97 with 1.6 seconds left in regulation with three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt.

Vince Carter scored 20 points for the Nets in his second appearance in Toronto since being traded to New Jersey by the Raptors.

CAVS 88, GRIZZLIES 84: LeBron James scored 26 points - nine over the final 2:31 - in his first game back with Cleveland from a short hospital stay. Drew Gooden added 18 points, Larry Hughes had 13 and Zydrunas Ilgauskas eight.

BULLS 98, CELTICS 82: Michael Sweetney scored 16 points and Kirk Hinrich added 14 for visiting Chicago. Darius Songaila and Kasib Powell each added 11 points for the Bulls, who erased two double-digit deficits while Celtics star Paul Pierce was out.

BUCKS 104, PISTONS 94: Milwaukee guard T.J. Ford had 19 points and nine assists in the win. Maurice Williams added 16 points for Milwaukee, which held Detroit's starters to single-digit scoring.

SONICS 99, CLIPPERS 93: Rashard Lewis scored 28 points in host Seattle's first preseason win. Luke Ridnour added 14 points, including a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired that put Seattle ahead 95-90 with 38 seconds left.

WARRIORS 108, SUNS 96: Mike Dunleavy had 30 points and Baron Davis scored 17 and had 11 assists for host Golden State, which outscored Phoenix 41-13 in the third quarter. Troy Murphy added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Warriors.

[Last modified October 20, 2005, 01:20:19]