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SPORTS> North America
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Howard's 24 lead Magic past Cavs for 2-1 lead
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-25 13:47 Pietrus made his free throws to make it 94-86 and the Magic appeared to have things under control when Howard caught James from behind and blocked his 3-pointer. The refs saw it otherwise and called a three-shot foul on Superman, who couldn't believe it.
James made all three shots, but the Cavs were short on time. Rashard Lewis' free throw made it 95-89 and after another Cleveland miss, Hedo Turkoglu was fouled and made two more to finish the job. Turkoglu was just 1-of-11 from the floor but made 11 free throws and added 10 rebounds and seven assists. After sitting the final seven minutes of the first half with three fouls, Howard made it through 9:10 of the third quarter before getting No. 4 - and technical No. 5 of the postseason. He was called for pushing Ben Wallace underneath, and upset with the whistle, he said something on his way to the bench that referee Joey Crawford didn't like and was T'd up. Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy had warned his star to keep his composure because the league automatically suspends a player for one game after he receives his seventh technical foul in the playoffs. "I didn't say anything to Joey Crawford," Howard said. "The response was to the other team. I didn't say anything to Joey Crawford. I'm not stupid enough to get in his face and say anything, so I try to keep it to the other team." The Magic led 29-23 when Howard picked up his third personal foul with 7:27 remaining in the first half when he bumped James ever so slightly on a drive. Less than two minutes later, Orlando was behind by five. During the stretch, Orlando's Anthony Johnson rocked Williams with a left elbow to the face that dropped Cleveland's point guard, who laid face down on the floor for several seconds. When he got up, Williams, who was called for a block, was bleeding from his eyebrow and left cheek. During the timeout, the officiating crew huddled and decided to call a flagrant-1 on Johnson. Williams, who had hurried from the floor for medical treatment, came back out to shoot the free throws with his eye already severely swollen. If he had not returned to shoot, Williams would not have been able to play anymore. Gritting his teeth, Williams, looking like a boxer needing a corner cut man, made both shots and immediately headed to the locker room for stitches. He was back on the floor with about two minutes left. Before the game, James said he expected a physical game. "When you play a team over and over you start to dislike them more," he said. "It just happens. It's got to be a little chippy." Was it ever.
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