Howard powers for 45 points as Magic edge Warriors

Jan 13, 2012, 8:26 GMT

Los Angeles - Dwight Howard converted the tie-breaking three-point play with 65 seconds remaining to match a career high 45 points, including 21 of an NBA-regular season record 39 free throw attempts, as the visiting Orlando Magic slipped past the Golden State Warriors 117-109 on Thursday night.

Josh Smith had 30 points with 13 rebounds, Joe Johnson scored 23 and the Atlanta Hawks playing their first game without two-time All-Star centre Al Horford, beat up the visiting Charlotte Bobcats, 111-81, on Thursday night.

Hours earlier, the Hawks learned Horford was expected to miss three to four months, after tearing the left pectoral muscle in his left shoulder going for a rebound against Indiana the previous night.

Rudy Gay scored 26 points, OJ Mayo added 18 and the host Grizzlies stopped a three-game slide, while snapping the Knicks' four-game winning streak after a 94-83 victory.

Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 14 points, but the All-Star forward limped off the court with a right ankle sprain in the third quarter.

Brandon Jennings scored 27 points, Stephen Jackson had 25, and the host Bucks sent the skidding Pistons to their sixth straight loss, 102-93, despite Greg Monroe's 32-point, 16-rebound effort.

Rookie Kyrie Irving scored 26 points, Antawn Jamison had 23 while Anderson Varejao pulled down 17 rebounds, as the visiting Cavaliers set the Suns, 101-90, to snap a three-game slide.

Steve Nash collected 16 points and 15 assist for Phoenix, which lost its second in a row.