PHOENIX – Raja Bell had a season-high 20 points to pace the Suns to a 110-106 victory on Friday night over the Orlando Magic, the NBA’s winningest team.

The Magic are 14-4, with two of their losses against the Suns, who also beat them 106-96 at Orlando Nov. 10. Orlando had been 9-1 since then.

Amare Stoudemire had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Shawn Marion had 18 points and nine rebounds, Grant Hill scored 15 points, Leandro Barbosa 17, and Steve Nash added 15 points and 14 assists for the Suns (12-4), who snapped a two-game skid.

Dwight Howard, who had a career-high 39 points and 16 rebounds against Seattle on Wednesday night, followed that with 30 points and 23 rebounds against the Suns. Howard had eight dunks. Hedo Turkoglu added 25 points for the Magic and Rashard Lewis had 18.

The Magic, who trailed by 10 points starting the fourth quarter, pulled to 107-106 with 11.4 seconds remaining on two free throws by Lewis. Marion then hit one of two free throws, Lewis missed a 3-pointer, and Nash sealed the victory with two foul shots with 3.8 seconds left.

Bell, whose previous high this season was 16, already had 18 in the first half, on 7-of-10 shots, including all four of his 3-point attempts. Hampered by back and ankle injuries this season and considered doubtful to start Friday, Bell appeared to have more spring in his step than in recent games, showing no ill effects of his physical ailments.

With the help of Bell’s pinpoint shooting, the Suns established a 60-50 halftime lead. They were aided by 12 Orlando turnovers, leading to 12 points.

Howard started slowly, missing four of his first five shots. He heated up, however, and the league leader in double-doubles already had his 15th by halftime, with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Twice the Suns led by 15 points in the first half, including 31-16 after one period.

Nash made his first nine free-throw attempts, extending his streak without a miss this season to 53, the most in the NBA since Philadelphia’s Kyle Korver hit 47 in a row last season. But he missed his 10th, with 15.8 seconds left.

Notes: Howard had 73 dunks coming into the game, more than 25 NBA teams, and more than twice as many as any other player. The Lakers’ Andrew Bynum was second with 33. … The Suns now embark on a season-high five-game road trip in seven days, visiting New York, Indiana, Toronto, Washington and Minnesota. … The Magic complete their five-game road swing at the Lakers on Sunday and at Golden State on Monday. … The Suns’ Sean Marks, who was born in Auckland, New Zealand, became a U.S. citizen Friday. … Orlando’s 16 first-quarter points were a season low for a Suns’ opponent.

AP-ES-11-30-07 2351EST


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