Sports

ORLANDO -- It's pretty much a given that when the 61st annual NBA All-Star game is played here at the Amway Arena, Dwight Howard will be the starting center. But he may not be alone.

Three other Magic players are on the All-Star ballot: Point guard Jameer Nelson, shooting guard Jason Richardson and small forward Hedo Turkoglu. Richardson has had a phenomenal start in the early going of this contracted season following the lockout, but Howard is clearly the star attraction not only on the Magic squad, but the league as a whole.

All eyes will be on the four-time All-Star with the likely trade talk swirling gain as the NBA's best come to town with the likes of LeBron James of the Miami Heat, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The last time Orlando hosted the All-Star game was 1992, with Magic Johnson's return to the NBA after his shocking announcement that he had contracted the HIV virus. Johnson won the game's most valuable player award.

Highlights of the Feb. 9, 1992, game were shown Wednesday as the Magic and the league joined in announcing the start of balloting for the All-Star Game. Magic Johnson led the West to a 153-113 blowout over the Eastern Conference all stars.

Howard said he's pumped about the game: "It is special having it here. We've been talking about this for the last couple of years and how we were going to make this game very exciting and good for our city... We're looking forward to putting on a good show for Orlando.''

ORLANDO -- The New Jersey Nets don't have center Brook Lopez. The Orlando Magic have center Dwight Howard. Translation: Nets get blown out. And that's exactly what happened before the home crowd Thursday night as the Magic easily dispatched of the Nets, 94-78.

NSBNews.net graphic / Vince Carter Sports Notebook

DAYTONA BEACH -- Vince Carter's place as the starting shooting guard lasted all of one game as the Dallas Mevericks went with Delonte West in Monday's 115 to 93 drubbing by the Denver Nuggets, 115 to 93 on Monday night.

ORLANDO -- In the waning minutes of the third quarter, J.J. Redick was apologetic to the referee for a foul that led to a technical, but it wasn't that big a deal. The Orlando Magic dispatched of the Houston Rockets at home tonight, 105-94.

Daytona Beach's Vince Carter started at shooting guard for the Dallas Mavericks at home before a raucous Christmas crowd, scoring 5 points on the losing end as the Miami Heat gave a little payback to the defending NBA champs.

Lebron James scored 37 points for the Heat in the 105-94 win in a game that was lopsided in Miami's favor despite the final score.

ORLANDO -- The Orlando Magic have waived guard Gabe Pruitt, President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Otis Smith announced Wednesday night following the team's preseason game vs. Miami.

Pruitt, who did not appear in either of Orlando's two preseason outings,  was third on the depth chart at point guard behind Jameer Nelson and Chris Duhon. He was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2009 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics out of USC.

Vince Carter is gearing up for the NBA season on Christmas day with his new team, the Dallas Mavericks, who open up at home against the team they beat in the finasls last season, the Miami Heat.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The Dallas Mavericks have good reason to be pleased with the addition of Vince Carter as the NBA season begins Christmas Day. Carter, the Mainland High School McDonald's All-American, known as "Vinsanity," practiced for the first time Thursday, slowed by tendinitis in his knee.