ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Fouled out and reduced to a spectator, Dwight Howard stood on the Orlando Magic sidelined with one thought as he watched the Philadelphia 76ers erase another big lead.

Thursday's games

• Celtics 107, Bulls 86 (Celtics 2-1)
• Mavericks 88, Spurs 67 (Mavs 2-1)
• Jazz 88, Lakers 86 (Lakers 2-1)

Wednesday's games

• Magic 96, Sixers 87 (Tied 1-1)
• Heat 108, Hawks 93 (Tied 1-1)
• Nuggets 108, Hornets 93 (Nuggets 2-0)

---

FOXSports.com analysis

• Playoff results, schedule
• 2009 NBA Playoff Central
• Rosen: Celtics play like champs
• Rosen: Rookie guard rescues Magic
• Hill: Home cooking isn't so sweet

---

Video

• Highlights: Thursday's games

  ---

Photos

• Thursday's action | Wednesday

The Magic held off the Sixers after Howard fouled out with 3:11 remaining, with Lewis hitting a jumper to put Orlando ahead 88-79 after Philadelphia again came within five points. Just when the Sixers started to rally again, Lewis grabbed a big offensive rebound and converted the layup to give the Magic back an 8-point lead with 28.8 remaining.

That lead would finally stick.

"Three nights ago, we made timely shots," Sixers coach Tony DiLeao said. "Tonight, we had some opportunities to make some big shots and then we didn't."

The 18-point lead the Magic lost in the opener was the biggest lead they blew all season, topping the loss on Halloween night to Memphis when they were ahead by 15 points. The Magic improved to 21-4 this season in games after a loss.

Philadelphia now heads home in the same position as a year ago, when it lost to a heavily favored Detroit team in six games.

The Sixers started right where they left off Game 1.

Miller made six of his first seven shots and scored 13 points in the first quarter, silencing the white-towel waving Magic fans early. He converted a three-point play after a foul on Howard to put the Sixers ahead 17-10.

Then the Magic began to roll.

Orlando ran off nine straight points, capped by a two-hand dunk by Howard on a fast-break pass zipped down the middle from Anthony Johnson. The Sixers started to lose their cool during the Magic's run.

Samuel Dalembert was whistled for a technical foul for arguing after he was called for a foul on Howard. Theo Ratliff was called for a breakaway foul on Lee, and Turkoglu made a pair of free throws after Iguodala reached in on his shot attempt.

The result was a 9-3 run that gave Orlando a nine-point lead.

Notes