Phoenix had been the only NBA city where Howard had not won.
Aaron Brooks, starting in place of injured Steve Nash, had 19 points and 10 assists, but the Suns were blown out at home for the second game in a row.
Six other Magic players reached double figures, led by Brandon Bass with 17 and Gilbert Arenas with 16. Orlando’s regulars got plenty of rest heading into Monday night’s game against the Lakers in Los Angeles.
Nash missed the game with “pelvic instability.” Coach Alvin Gentry said his star point guard probably also will miss Monday night’s game at Houston.
Celtics 87 Bucks 56: In Boston, Ray Allen scored 17 points in just three quarters and Boston set a franchise record for fewest points allowed in the shot clock era.
It was the lowest score against the Celtics since they beat the Milwaukee Hawks 62-57 on Feb. 27, 1955.
Earl Barron was the only player to score in double figures for the Bucks, finishing with 10 points. Australian Andrew Bogut and Brandon Jennings led Milwaukee’s starters with eight points apiece.
Thunder 95 Cavaliers 75: In Cleveland, Russell Westbrook scored 12 straight points during a 5-minute stretch of the third quarter to awaken his listless Oklahoma City teammates.
Westbrook scored 14 of his 20 points in the third, helping the Thunder open a 20-point cushion. Kevin Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer, added 19 points — nine below his average — as the Thunder improved to 19-6 against Eastern Conference teams.
Daniel Gibson had 13 points and J.J. Hickson pulled down 15 rebounds for Cleveland.
Bobcats 95 Raptors 90: In Toronto, D.J. Augustin scored 23 points and Gerald Henderson had 18 to help Charlotte snap a five-game road losing streak.
Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw added 15 points apiece for the Bobcats, who have won two straight after a season-high six-game slide.
Andrea Bargnani had 17 points and Leandro Barbosa added 15 for Toronto, which has lost 11 of 15 and 24 of 29.
Pacers 106 Knicks 93: In New York, Tyler Hansbrough scored a career-high 29 points, Dahntay Jones added 18 in place of leading scorer Danny Granger, and Indiana snapped a six-game losing streak.
Darren Collison added 16 points, and Roy Hibbert had 12 points, eight rebounds and five blocks for the Pacers in the opener of a home-and-home series.
Amare Stoudemire scored 28 points for the Knicks, who lost their second straight. Carmelo Anthony added 25 but shot just 9 for 22.
Warriors 100 Timberwolves 77: In Oakland, California, Stephen Curry had 24 points and nine rebounds, and Golden State ended Kevin Love’s consecutive double-doubles streak at 53 games.
Monta Ellis and Dorell Wright added 16 points apiece for the Warriors, who limited Love to only six points on 1-of-6 shooting, ending the NBA’s longest such streak since Elvin Hayes had double-doubles in 55 consecutive games in 1973-74. Love had 12 rebounds.
Michael Beasley and Martell Webster each had 16 points for Minnesota.
