Vinsanity Returns For A Night: Vince Carter Drops 48 In Magic Win Over Hornets

Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - Vince Carter scored 34 of his season-high 48 points in the second half, rallying Orlando to a second straight victory, 123-117 over the New Orleans Hornets.

Carter scored nine during a 19-0 rally in the second half of Sunday's 96-89 win at Boston. The veteran was on fire again in the late going against the Hornets. He finished the game 19-of-27 from the field, including 6-of-10 from three-point range. Carter missed just four of his 17 field goal attempts in the second half.

Dwight Howard powered his way for 25 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks for the Magic, who won for the sixth time in seven games. Orlando rallied from a 17-point deficit in the second half.

Peja Stojakovic scored 29 and pulled down nine rebounds for New Orleans, which has lost four of five. David West and Darren Collison each chipped in 27 points for the Hornets, who had a four-game road winning streak stopped. Collison also had nine assists.

Howard's two free throws gave the Magic their first lead since the opening quarter at 108-107 with 3:40 remaining. After Collison missed a jumper, Carter dribbled between his legs and blew by defenders for a layup and was fouled. The free throw made it a four-point lead.

New Orleans managed to cut the deficit to 111-110 following a Collison layup, but Carter nailed an ensuing three-pointer with 2:17 remaining. The Hornets never got closer than three points, the last time at 120-117 on a Stojakovic long-distance shot with 25.8 left. Rashard Lewis then made 1-of-2 free throws.

Howard later missed a pair from the foul line, but Lewis got the rebound and made a pair to account for the final margin.

The Hornets gained a 32-28 lead after one quarter and they went 16-of-23 from the field in the second, on the way to a 70-55 cushion at the half.

"For me, it's just about getting the win," Carter said. "After a very sluggish start, they were more aggressive than us, pushing the ball, they were attacking and being the aggressors. We had to do something about it."

New Orleans gained its largest lead with the opening bucket of the third, but Orlando came back with a 28-12 push, getting within one on a Carter layup at the three-minute mark. It was 94-87 moving to the fourth.

"We were expecting them to come out with their full effort and intensity and that's what they did," Hornets coach Jeff Bower said. "They made their run at us and it was a strong performance by Vince Carter to put them in this position."

Lewis had 18 points for Orlando, which went 12-of-26 from beyond the arc...James Posey and Darius Songaila each scored 10 for the Hornets...Carter was three points shy of a career-high. His points were the most scored by a Magic player since Tracy McGrady scored 62 vs. Washington on March 10, 2004.