Magic too much for young Bobcats to handle

Steve Francis added 18 points with five rebounds and six assists for the Magic, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Jameer Nelson chipped in 18 points in the victory.

Orlando played without Grant Hill, who left Friday’s loss to New Jersey with a groin injury.

Keith Bogans came off the bench to lead the Bobcats with 22 points. Gerald Wallace added 12 points and 10 rebounds in the loss, Charlotte’s fourth in a row.

Brevin Knight left the game for Charlotte in the third quarter with lower back spasms. He had nine points and six assists before heading to the locker room for the night.

Trailing by one to begin the third quarter, the Magic opened the period with a 16-6 surge, capped by two free throws by Francis, to go up 65-56. Tony Battie poured in six points during the stretch.

Orlando outscored Charlotte 33-10 in the third period to take an 82-60 lead into the final quarter of action.

The Magic continued to lead big in the final quarter and with about six minutes to play in the game, Howard set the crowd into a frenzy when he slammed home DeShawn Stevenson’s lob pass for a 97-67 lead.

Charlotte outscored Orlando 32-26 in the fourth quarter, but it was too little and too late, as the Magic’s big third quarter was too much to overcome.

The Bobcats took a 50-49 lead into halftime with Wallace leading the way by netting nine points and grabbing nine rebounds. As a team, Charlotte shot 45 percent in the first half.

After the opening quarter the Bobcats led 31-27, with Primoz Brezec scoring six points in the paint.

Game Notes

The Magic improved to 9-9 at home this season and have won four in a row at the TD Waterhouse Center...Orlando hits the road for a four-game road trip starting Tuesday night against the Clippers...Nelson added seven rebounds and dished out six assists for the Magic...Orlando shot 56.3 percent from the floor...The Bobcats are 4-14 on the road this season...Charlotte’s Jumaine Jones and Brezec had 10 points each.