The Orlando Magic took advantage of LeBron James' off night to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-88 in the NBA on Thursday. Dwight Howard had 22 points and 18 rebounds, Hedo Turkoglu added 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson, both selected as All-Star game reserves earlier, also came up big for Orlando. Lewis had 19 points, and Nelson chipped in with 18. James was 10-of-27 shooting for the Cavaliers, who lost for the first time in five games. He finished with 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Shaq back in All-Star game After being left out of the NBA's midseason gala for the first time in his career last season, Shaquille O'Neal received his 15th All-Star selection when the reserves were announced on Thursday. O'Neal and Phoenix Suns teammate Amare Stoudemire give the host team two Western Conference All-Stars for the Feb. 15 game. New Orleans, San Antonio and the Los Angeles Lakers also had multiple players on the West roster, which will be coached by the Lakers' Phil Jackson. The Orlando Magic made out best in the East, with Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis picked as reserves by the conference's coaches alongside starter Dwight Howard. It's the first time Orlando has had three All-Stars. “I was just anxious to find out,” Nelson said. “I honestly don't get that way. But me hearing everywhere, ‘You're an All-Star, you should be an All-Star, you're having an All-Star year.' So you just want to see if people will give you the respect that other people think you deserve.” But for the second year in a row, only two of the Boston Celtics' Big Three made the initial roster: Paul Pierce was voted in with starter Kevin Garnett, while Ray Allen was left out. Traded to the Suns at last season's deadline, O'Neal endured the worst season of his career and had his record-tying streak of 14 consecutive All-Star appearances end. Now he's back in the showcase game, and trails only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 19 for most appearances. Abdul-Jabbar, a Lakers assistant, will help coach the West. O'Neal wasn't the only veteran on a West roster flush with experience. San Antonio's Tim Duncan and the Lakers' Kobe Bryant are each making their 11th appearances, while Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki was picked for the eighth time and Houston center Yao Ming for the seventh time. Carmelo Anthony, who's missed the last 10 games with a broken bone in his right hand, was left off the roster even though he's been cleared to play. That leaves point guard Chauncey Billups the lone selection from division-leading Denver. If the West plans to rely on experience, the East might turn to youthful exuberance. Making their first All-Star teams are Nelson, New Jersey guard Devin Harris and Indiana forward Danny Granger, who was snubbed last season but whose play for the injury-depleted Pacers has been extraordinary. Granger was fourth in the league in scoring at 25.8 points per game. Stoudemire, Yao, Bryant, Duncan and Chris Paul of New Orleans were voted by fans to start for the West. The East starters are Garnett, Howard, Dwyane Wade, Allen Iverson of Detroit and LeBron James of Cleveland. Coaches were then required to vote for two guards, two forwards, a center and two at-large reserves. The other picks for the West were Pau Gasol of the Lakers, Tony Parker of San Antonio, Brandon Roy of Portland and David West of New Orleans. Filling out the East roster are Toronto forward Chris Bosh and Atlanta guard Joe Johnson.
