LEAD: Howard powers on, helping Magic manhandle Lakers, 92-80

By Paul Levine Jan 21, 2012, 8:19 GMT

Los Angeles - The highly anticipated match-up between Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum in the battle of the NBA's best centres was a disappointing mismatch Friday as the hosting Orlando Magic powered over the cold-shooting LA Lakers, 92-80.

Howard had 21 points with 23 rebounds, helping the Magic to its sixth victory in the last seven games.

'It's not about the match-up between me and Andrew, this is a team game,' said Howard after eclipsing the 20-point, 20-rebound barrier for the fifth time this season, while foul-plagued Bynum finished with just 10 points and 12 boards. 'I just want to win.

'We played great from the beginning to the end of the game. That's what we have to do every night.'

Jameer Nelson had 17 points with nine assists while JJ Redick scored 15 for Orlando, which had its 23-point, second-quarter cushion trimmed to eight midway through the fourth quarter before pulling away.

Kobe Bryant scored 30 while Spaniard Pau Gasol added 13 for the Lakers, who dropped to 1-6 on the road after posting their lowest point total of the season.

The Magic led 67-52 at halftime behind 10 points and 15 rebounds from Howard while Bynum watched from the bench as the Lakers made a frosty 28.9 per cent (11 of 38) of their field goals.

The Lakers found the mark in the second half and pulled to within 74-66 on Jason Kapono's three-pointer with six minutes, 19 seconds left to play. However, the Magic went on an 8-0 run to regain control.

Nelson made the free throw after Bryant was whistled for a technical foul, and Jason Richardson walked in for a wide-open dunk to make it 77-66. After Bryant missed a three-pointer, Ryan Anderson buried a triple at the other end and the Magic stayed in front.

'We told our guys we had to finish the game,' Howard said. 'We did a good job of finishing the game.'

Elsewhere:

Minnesota Timberwolves 101, LA Clippers 98: Kevin Love had 17 points, 14 rebounds and buried the buzzer-beating straight-away three-pointer after Spanish rookie guard Ricky Rubio hit the game-tying triple with 20 seconds left, lifting the visiting Timberwolves over the stunned Clippers.

Sacramento Kings 88, San Antonio Spurs 86: Tyreke Evans hit the go-ahead jumper with 47 seconds remaining to cap a 23-point, 11-rebound, seven-assist effort, and the Kings sent the Spurs to their first home loss of the season after opening 9-0.

Frenchman Tony Parker scored 24 points for San Antonio, which had won the previous 12 meetings in the series.

Portland Trail Blazers 94, Toronto Raptors 84: LaMarcus Aldridge erupted for 33 points and a career-best 23 rebounds as the visiting Trail Blazers handed the Raptors their seventh straight loss.

Denver Nuggets 108, Washington Wizards 104: Al Harrington scored a season-high 29 points, including a key three-pointer with just over a minute left, and the visiting Nuggets edged the Wizards for their third straight win.

John Wall had 13 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds as Washington fell to a league-worst 2-14 mark this season.

Chicago Bulls 114, Cleveland Cavaliers 75: Luol Deng scored 21 points, Carlos Boozer added 19 with 14 rebounds, and visiting Bulls minus league most valuable player Derrick Rose (sore big left toe) for the third straight game, handed the Cavaliers their worst home loss.

Philadelphia 76ers 90, Atlanta Hawks 76: Thaddeus Young netted 20 points, Jrue Holiday had 16 with 11 assists, and the 76ers outscored the visiting Hawks 52-29 in the second half for the come-from-behind win.

Phoenix Suns 79, Boston Celtics 71: Marcin Gortat had 24 points with 12 rebounds, and the visiting Suns sent the slumping Celtics minus Rajon Rondo (right wrist sprain), to their sixth loss in seven games.

Milwaukee Bucks 100, New York Knicks 86: Brandon Jennings poured in a season-high 36 points and the Bucks earned their first road win of the season (1-8), while sending the sliding Knicks to their fifth straight loss, despite Carmelo Anthony's 35 points.

Memphis Grizzlies 98, Detroit Pistons 81: Rudy Gay scored 24 points, Spaniard Marc Gasol added 17, and the visiting Grizzlies handed the downward-spiraling Pistons their tenth loss in 11 games.

Indiana Pacers 94, Golden State Warriors 91: George Hill drove the length of the floor for a three-point play with 1.8 seconds remaining after stealing the ball from Monta Ellis, lifting the visiting Pacers over the Warriors.

Danny Granger led Indiana with 26 points, while Ellis' 25 topped Golden State.