The Washington Wizards were helpless against Dwight Howard. The NBA’s leading rebounder, Howard had 26 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks to help the Orlando Magic beat the Wizards 105-90 on Thursday night. Orlando has won eight of its last nine games and six in a row on the road. Howard toyed with four Washington defenders — scoring 14 points and grabbing nine rebounds in the first 8:45 as the…

After Chris Bosh jumped high for a fourth-quarter alley-oop, Larry Brown knew he was watching a memorable performance, and the Charlotte Bobcats coach wanted to make sure his young team knew it, too. Bosh had 39 points and 11 rebounds, Joey Graham added a season-high 17 points and the Toronto Raptors beat the Bobcats 93-86 on Wednesday night.

When Rajon Rondo is playing well, the Boston Celtics become even harder to stop. Rondo, a 6-foot-1 point guard, scored a season-high 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds and added seven assists, led Boston to a 119-111 comeback win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. “I think when he’s on like he’s on tonight, we’re unbeatable,” Paul Pierce said.

For all their victories and all their success in recent seasons, the Phoenix Suns had a heck of a time of late in icy Minnesota. With three losses in their last four games at Target Center in mind, Suns coach Terry Porter decided to gas up the Diesel. After resting Shaquille O’Neal a night earlier in Oklahoma City, the big fella had 18 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks to help the balanced Suns…

On a night LeBron James matched his career-low in minutes played, the Cleveland Cavaliers made history. Even with James playing just 17 minutes, Cleveland rolled to an 117-82 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night as the Cavaliers raised their record to 12-3, their best start in franchise history.

The Utah Jazz didn’t know how much they missed Deron Williams until they were running and dunking to their highest point total of the season. “We’re just glad to have Deron back,” Utah coach Jerry Sloan said after Williams had 11 points and 15 assists in his return to the lineup, leading the Jazz to a 117-100 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

The Indiana Pacers had blown second-half leads in three straight games, but they were the ones who mounted the comeback in Houston on Wednesday night. Danny Granger tipped in his own miss with 13 seconds left and the Pacers rallied from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to beat the Rockets 91-90. Troy Murphy scored 14 of his 21 points in the final quarter as Indiana snapped a three-game losing…

Portland is 6-0 at home for the first time since the 1998-99 season, and the wins are getting easier. Reserve Channing Frye scored 17 points, LaMarcus Aldridge added 16, and the Trail Blazers built a big first-quarter lead on the way to a 106-68 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. After narrowly winning their first three home games this season, Portland has won two of its last three by…

Marcus Camby made plenty of big plays during his six seasons with the Nuggets. And in his first game against them since leaving Denver, he had a chance to give the Los Angeles Clippers a comeback victory with a 3-pointer as time ran out. Camby’s shot came up short. “That was storybook ending right there,” Carmelo Anthony said after scoring 30 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and hitting a go-ahead…

Edmonton 1 0 0-1

First Period-1, Los Angeles, O’Sullivan 6 (Kopitar, Doughty), 5:58. 2, Edmonton, Hemsky 6 (Penner), 10:50.

Second Period-3, Los Angeles, Kopitar 5 (O’Sullivan, Moller), 13:51.

Third Period-None.

…

National Hockey League

DETROIT RED WINGS-Assigned RW Darren McCarty to Grand Rapids (AHL). Recalled F Darren Helm from Grand Rapids.

ST. LOUIS BLUES-Assigned F Chris Porter to Peoria…

For the second time in less than three weeks on Long Island, the Penguins wiped o…