ORLANDO, Fla., April 20 (UPI) -- Dwight Howard's 25 points and 22 rebounds Sunday lifted Orlando to a 114-100 win over Toronto in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
The winners bolted to a 43-23 advantage after the first quarter and led the entire contest.
Toronto came within 81-73 with 1:39 left in the third, but Howard scored six points in a 10-0 fourth-period spurt, and Toronto did not answer.
Jameer Nelson scored 24 with seven assists. Hedo Turkuglu added 21 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Rashard Lewis scored 13 points, while Howard added five blocked shots in the Magic's first playoff game win since 2003.
Toronto was led by Anthony Parker's 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Chris Bosh added 21 with six rebounds and three steals. Jason Kapono scored 18, and Rasho Nesterovic added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Raptors, who have not won a playoff game since 2003.
