Super Howard propels Magic past Cavaliers

Dwight Howard out-muscled Shaquille O'Neal on Sunday as his Orlando Magic notched a 101-95 victory over Cleveland that marked the Cavaliers' first three-game losing streak in two years.

Howard scored 22 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and had four blocks for Orlando. Vince Carter added eight of his 11 points in the fourth quarter to help the Magic beat the Cavs for the first time this season.

Prior to their skid, the Cavaliers had reeled off 13 victories in a row.

O'Neal made his first eight shots and finished with 20 points, and LeBron James had 33 points and nine rebounds for Cleveland, who were ousted by Orlando in last year's Eastern Conference finals.

The showdown between Howard and O'Neal - in the wake of a tiff over the "Superman" nickname - lived up to its billing.

O'Neal has been known as the comic book superhero for much of his 17-year NBA career, and he had taken exception to Howard assuming the same nickname.

In addition, Howard has helped Orlando fans forget O'Neal - who spent four years there in the 1990s - as he has led the Magic back to contender status.

Their match-up didn't disappoint.

In the first quarter, O'Neal seized a rebound and caught Howard under the basket, hammering a powerful one-handed dunk over his young rival.

Shaq added a put-back dunk, an alley-oop tip-in and a three-point play over Howard all before the half ended.

Howard, meanwhile, was able to get around O'Neal, slashing past him for layups and hook shots.

In the waning minutes, however, others took centre stage, and it was Rashard Lewis' three-pointer with 20.1 seconds left that sealed Orlando's victory.