NBA Power Rankings: All-Star shots, passes, dunks, and games

The Hornets won their only game of the week, with Dwight Howard showing up in a big way against one of his former teams in a 104-102 win over the Orlando Magic. Howard had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and the Hornets were able to avoid going into the break as the owners of a five-game losing streak. “We needed this game,” Howard said. “Players know the All-Star break is coming so they kind of take a break and are not focused on the game before the break. We had to come out with the right mentality.” Kemba Walker and Nic Batum knocked in 3-pointers in the final 90 seconds, and they weren’t in danger of the Magic catching them at that point. The Hornets concern now shifts to being the worst of the good teams left in the Eastern Conference, and they’re looking up at a lot of playoff teams in the standings as the 10-seed.