Lawson's 25 leads Nuggets past Howard-less Magic

By Kyle Hightower

Associated Press

Published: Sunday, April 1 2012 6:50 p.m. MDT

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Orlando Magic's Ryan Anderson (33) reaches for a rebound between Denver Nuggets' Corey Brewer (13) and Kenneth Faried (35) during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday, April 1, 2012, in Orlando, Fla.

John Raoux, Associated Press

Summary

Ty Lawson scored 12 of his 25 points in the second half and Arron Afflalo added 22 points as the Denver Nuggets beat the short-handed Orlando Magic 104-101 Sunday night.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Ty Lawson scored 12 of his 25 points in the second half and Arron Afflalo added 22 points as the Denver Nuggets beat the short-handed Orlando Magic 104-101 Sunday night.

The Nuggets won back-to-back games for the first time since a four-game win streak the first week of March. Al Harrington added 18 points.

Jameer Nelson led Orlando with 27 points, followed by Ryan Anderson with 20 and Glen Davis with 18. The Magic played without center Dwight Howard, who missed his first game of the season with back spasms.

The loss was Orlando's third straight and only the second to the Nuggets in 19 meetings at home.

Howard's absence was noticeable throughout, with the Nuggets scoring 44 points in the paint and shooting a 56 percent for the night.

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