NBA playoffs: Magic beat Bobcats 99-90 to complete sweep

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dwight Howard kept collecting fouls, and all the Orlando Magic did was become the first team to advance in the NBA playoffs.

Vince Carter scored 21 points, Jameer Nelson added 18 and the Magic showcased their depth and pressure shot-making in a 99-90 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday night to complete a sweep of their first-round series.

Howard was held to six points in his fourth straight game in foul trouble, but the Magic never flinched to accomplish their first four-game sweep in franchise history. Orlando will face the Atlanta-Milwaukee winner in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Tyrus Thomas scored a career playoff-high 21 points for the Bobcats, whose focus will now almost immediately turn to nomadic coach Larry Brown's future with the team.

Howard did grab 13 rebounds, but was limited to 23 minutes before fouling out for the second straight game. The Magic, though, got key contributions and big shots from others.

Rashard Lewis scored 17 points, Matt Barnes added 14 and Orlando held Stephen Jackson to 2-of-11 shooting to make sure Charlotte would be the only team not to win a first-round game.

After Charlotte cut Orlando's lead to one on Tyson Chandler's two free throws, Mickael Pietrus hit consecutive 3-pointers directly across the floor from Bobcats owner Michael Jordan's seat to put the Magic ahead 83-76 with 5:47 left.

Nelson's 3-pointer less than a minute later — after Gerald Wallace missed two free throws — put it away for the Magic, whose only previous playoff sweep was a 3-0 victory over Detroit in 1996.

They made quick work of the Bobcats, whose first playoff appearance turned into a miserable offensive exhibition. Charlotte couldn't take advantage of Howard's long stints on the bench — and now has to wonder if its coach will be back.

Brown, in the second season of his 13th head coaching job in college and the pros, said two weeks ago that Jordan is "the only guy I'm going to coach for." But Jordan said last month he wouldn't hold the 69-year-old Brown to his contract if he wanted to leave for family reasons.

Brown's wife and children live in Philadelphia, and Brown could hold true to his word if he left for a job such as team president with the 76ers and hired his own coach.