(REUTERS) – All-Star centre Dwight Howard led the Orlando Magic to a 105-89 victory over a depleted Phoenix Suns on Thursday, the visiting team unable to overcome the absence of two-time NBA most valuable player Steve Nash. The Magic, winners of three straight games and leading the Southeast Division with an 8-3 record, had six players score in double digits.
Howard led the way with a double-double, scoring 20 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in less than 30 minutes, while Jameer Nelson added 15 points and 12 assists.
Orlando went on a 13-0 run in the first quarter to take an early 12-point lead, which they extended to 62-34 by halftime and never looked in danger of relinquishing the advantage.
“If you look at their numbers, they’re not a great defensive team anyway,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.
“They’re an up-and-down team that’s going to score a lot of points, and without Steve Nash it’s hard for them to play at that pace. And then we shot the ball very well.”
The Suns, without starting point guard Nash because of a groin injury, lost their second straight road game in as many nights and dropped to 6-6 on the season.
“He’s our Kobe (Bryant),” Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry said of Nash. “He’s our Dwight (Howard). He’s the engine that makes the car go. But we’ve still got to do a better job of competing.
Grant Hill led the Suns with 21 points. Goran Dragic, playing in Nash’s point guard position had 10 points, four assists and four rebounds.
The Magic dominated the Suns and led by as many as 32 points before taking their starters out of the game and coasting to victory.