Dwight Howard scored a season-high 39 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Lakers over the Orlando Magic 106-97 in a homecoming game Tuesday against his former NBA club.
Howard also matched his own NBA record for free throw attempts in a game with 39, sinking 25 of them while hitting 7-of-13 shots from the field as the Lakers improved to 34-31 in their fight for a Western Conference playoff berth.
“I just wanted to come out and have a great game,” Howard said. “It was a great atmosphere. I could just get my mind away and play.”
Magic supporters who once cheered Howard booed him throughout the game as Orlando players deliberately fouled him at times, sending Howard to the free throw line where his success rate is lackluster at best.
“I want to thank everyone in Orlando who supported me for those eight years,” Howard said. “I don’t care how many signs they hold up or how many times they boo me, I will always have love for them.”
In January of last year, Howard went 21-of-39 at the charity stripe against Golden State to break an old NBA mark of 34 free throws in one game that Lakers legend Wilt Chamberlain had held for half a century.