Carter finished with 19 points and Howard scored 15. The Magic's star duo was less than stellar but took over when it counted most. They combined for 21 second-half points to help Orlando build a 20-point lead and hold on late.
Stephen Jackson showed no effects from his hyperextended left knee to score 27 points, and Gerald Wallace had 15 points for the Bobcats. But their 21 turnovers are a big reason why they're heading home still searching for the franchise's first playoff win.
Game 3 in the best-of-seven series is Saturday in Charlotte.
The Bobcats went more than eight minutes to start the game with only three points, and had just one field goal with six turnovers during that stretch. The goods news was that the Magic was almost as bad early.
The first half was a turnover-fest for both teams, and nobody could consistently hit a shot. Things were so out of sorts that the normally sharp shooting J.J. Redick even badly missed the free throw from Charlotte coach Larry Brown's technical foul in the second quarter.
The Magic put together the closest thing to a run, and they gradually eked out a 41-30 lead at half time. With Charlotte's 14 first-half turnovers, though, they could've been up more.
Orlando's star pairing belatedly got going. Howard had nine points in the first five-plus minutes of the third before picking up his fourth foul, again relegating him to the bench.
Then, Carter took the reigns. Orlando's biggest off season acquisition, Carter sliced his way through the lane for several layups late in the third quarter. He anchored a run that put the Magic ahead 75-55 after three quarters.
After Charlotte trimmed the lead to eight with 3:16, Carter followed with a jumper. Then Jackson missed a layup, and Jameer Nelson raced down court to convert a three-point play that sealed Orlando's win.
In Dallas, Richard Jefferson scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half to help San Antonio beat Dallas and tie their first-round series at a game apiece.
Jefferson responded to criticism by coach Gregg Popovich after Game 1. He was 7 of 9 by halftime, several coming during a 12-1 surge that broke the game open for good.
Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki went from hardly missing in Game 1 to hardly making baskets. He missed six of his first seven shots, and even missed a free throw after having made 88 in a row. He finished with 24 points, down from 36 in the series opener.
The Mavericks played their best only after they seemed to have buried themselves - down 16-5 early, they got within one by the end of the quarter; down 80-60 late in the third quarter they scored 12 straight points; down 13 again early in the fourth, they clawed within five. However, they never led and have now given away home-court advantage.
Game 3 is in San Antonio on Friday, and the fans can't wait. They're especially looking forward to seeing Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who fanned the flames of the rivalry in recent days by repeatedly saying, "I hate the Spurs."
San Antonio built leads with intelligent play. They held onto the ball, forced their way to the rim, then took advantage of the space that opened up for longer-range jumpers. In the game breaking second quarter, their inside-out attack produced 34 points on 68 percent shooting.
Tim Duncan led San Antonio for a second straight game, with 25 points and 17 rebounds. Manu Ginobili had 23 points, including a 3-pointer with 1:48 left that sealed it.
Tony Parker, still coming off the bench, had 16 points and eight assists.
Jason Terry was a non-factor most of Game 1 for Dallas, but he hit his first two shots and kept looking for his shot all night. He finished with 27 points. Caron Butler scored 17.
