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PHILADELPHIA — Dwight Howard returned from suspension to score 19 points, grab 13 rebounds and lead the Orlando Magic to a 95-85 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.
Howard served an NBA suspension Sunday after picking up his 18th technical foul. He wasn’t bothered by the refs — or the Sixers — in his return. Howard dominated the boards with no one in the undersized Sixers lineup able to stop his one-handed jams and alley-oops.
Ryan Anderson had 18 points and 14 rebounds, and Jameer Nelson scored 19 points for the Magic, who had a 23-rebound edge at one point in the second quarter and used a 16-2 run in the third to shake off the pesky Sixers.
Bobcats 105, Nets 103
NEWARK, N.J. — D.J. Augustin hit a jumper with 1.1 seconds remaining, leading the Charlotte Bobcats to a victory over the New Jersey Nets.
Nets guard Sasha Vujacic, who finished with 19 points, hit a long 3-pointer to tie the game at 103 with 10.9 seconds remaining.
Heat 98, Hawks 90
ATLANTA — LeBron James scored 34 points and Miami held on for a win over the Atlanta Hawks, who nearly rallied from a 20-point deficit while playing their backups against the Big Three in the fourth quarter.
Wizards 95, Celtics 94
WASHINGTON — The Boston Celtics didn’t play four of their usual starters, essentially setting aside their bid for a better playoff seed for the chance to give their top players some rest, and the result was a overtime loss to the Washington Wizards on Monday night that handed the Miami Heat the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference.
Jazz 90, Hornets 78
NEW ORLEANS — C.J. Miles and Devin Harris each scored 18 points, and the Utah Jazz defeated the New Orleans Hornets.
Cavaliers 110, Pistons 101
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Daniel Gibson scored 17 points, including a five-point play late in the third quarter, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons in a testy game in which Charlie Villanueva and Ryan Hollins were ejected.
Bucks 93, Raptors 86
MILWAUKEE — Brandon Jennings broke free for three straight fast-break scores to give Milwaukee the lead in the fourth quarter, and the Bucks held on to beat the undermanned Toronto Raptors.