Orlando Magic

For months the Orlando Magic have been trudging through the aftermath of a preseason trade request by Dwight Howard that sapped the life out of the franchise as internal team issues quickly affected the product on the floor. Now after one of the most tumultuous seasons in their history, they made the first in what promises to be a huge offseason shake-up. The Magic fired coach Stan Van Gundy on Monday and agreed to part ways with general manager Otis Smith , severing ties with two of the architects of one of the most successful runs in team history.

By Matt Pepin, Boston.com Staff ESPN basketball analyst Chris Broussard reported the Orlando Magic may meet with former Celtics center Shaquille O'Neal to discuss the team's general manager position. O'Neal, who retired as a player after the 2010-11 season, has been working as an analyst on NBA broadcasts. He began his NBA career with the Magic in 1992 after Orlando made him the top pick in that year's draft. Another ESPN analyst, Stephen A. Smith, said Thursday on SportsCenter he thinks O'Neal's real motive is to someday become an NBA team owner.

For months the Orlando Magic have been trudging through the aftermath of a preseason trade request by Dwight Howard that sapped the life out of the franchise as internal team issues quickly affected the product on the floor. Now after easily one of the most tumultuous seasons in their history, they made the first in what promises to be a huge offseason shake-up The Magic fired coach Stan Van Gundy on Monday and agreed to part ways with general manager Otis Smith, severing ties with two of the architects of one of the most successful runs in franchise history.

For months the Orlando Magic have been trudging through the aftermath of a preseason trade request by Dwight Howard that sapped the life out of the franchise as internal team issues quickly affected the product on the floor. Now after one of the most tumultuous seasons in their history, they made the first in what promises to be a huge offseason shake-up. The Magic fired coach Stan Van Gundy on Monday and agreed to part ways with general manager Otis Smith , severing ties with two of the architects of one of the most successful runs in team history.

Members of the Orlando Magic were spotted at Fenway Park on Tuesday night. Players - including Jameer Nelson, Chris Duhon,Quentin Richardson, and Jason Richardson - were also at Who's on First before the game. . . . Bachelor Ben Flajnik and his lady, Courtney Robertson, were also at Fenway on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Flajnik is pals with Red Sox outfielder Cody Ross.

Ryan Anderson made a career-best eight 3-pointers and finished with 28 points to help the Orlando Magic win their third straight game Monday night, beating the Toronto Raptors 117-101. Dwight Howard had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Jameer Nelson scored 18 points for the Magic. Orlando came in leading the NBA in 3-pointers and hit 15 of 34 from beyond the arc in this one, two shy of its season high. Orlando has made 17 3-pointers twice this season, first at New York on Jan. 16 and against Miami on Feb. 8.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff ATLANTA -- The Celtics traveled to Atlanta this afternoon without three key players -- Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Mickael Pietrus -- as they will face the Atlanta Hawks in a game that could determine whether the Celtics open the playoffs at home or on the road. The Hawks are one-half game ahead of the Celtics, who have three games left. The Hawks have four games left. The Orlando Magic are one-half game behind the Celtics, so Boston's playoff opponent could come down to the final game of the regular season.

LeBron James scored 19 points and the Miami Heat got their preseason off to an easy start, running away to beat the Orlando Magic 118-85 on Sunday night. Terrel Harris scored 16, while Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh each had 14 for Miami. The Heat led 53-46 at halftime before turning it into a rout. Ryan Anderson and J.J. Redick each scored 22 for Orlando, which lost for the first time in 22 preseason games dating to October 2008. The subject of trade talk throughout training camp, Dwight Howard finished with only five points on 2-for-9 shooting.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard has signed papers agreeing to waive the early termination option in his contract and he will be with the Magic to begin the 2012-13 season. Magic spokesman Joel Glass confirmed Howard had signed the papers Thursday morning. It is unclear if his agent, Dan Fegan, did as well. The trade deadline was set for 3 p.m. EDT. Howard's decision ends the season-long drama on whether he would be dealt before the Magic risked losing him in free agency.

Pat Garrity opened overtime with consecutive 3-pointers and scored a season-high 24 points, Hedo Turkoglu had 25, and the Orlando Magic beat the 76ers, 119-115, last night in Philadelphia for their season-high fifth straight win. Keyon Dooling sank the go-ahead free throws with 1:08 left in overtime and had 18 points. Dwight Howard had 22 to help Orlando run off its longest winning streak since it won six straight in 2002. Suns 107, Heat 98 -- Raja Bell scored 22 points, Steve Nash had 21 points and 14 assists, and visiting Phoenix blew most of a 21-point second-half...

For months the Orlando Magic have been trudging through the aftermath of a preseason trade request by Dwight Howard that sapped the life out of the franchise as internal team issues quickly affected the product on the floor. Now after easily one of the most tumultuous seasons in their history, they made the first in what promises to be a huge offseason shake-up The Magic fired coach Stan Van Gundy on Monday and agreed to part ways with general manager Otis Smith, severing ties with two of the architects of one of the most successful runs in franchise history.

It was just like old times at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Finally. After years of losing and players finding trouble, the Indiana Pacers finally gave their fans something to really cheer about. Danny Granger scored 25 points to help the Pacers defeat the Orlando Magic, 105-87, Tuesday night and clinch their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series, 4-1. "I'm just so happy for our fans," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "They've endured a lot those years when we struggled.

Danny Granger and the Pacers are getting some well-deserved time off and he plans to spend some of it rooting for the Knicks against the Heat. It's not that Indiana's forward wants to see them win. He's just hoping New York can extend the series against Miami so the teams keep beating up on each other in a series the Heat lead 3-1. Granger ensured the Pacers will be fresh for whichever team advances, scoring 25 points to help Indiana eliminate...

Danny Granger had 26 points and nine rebounds, Roy Hibbert added 18 points and 10 rebounds, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Orlando Magic 97-74 on Wednesday night to a take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series. The Pacers regained home-court advantage with the victory, riding good shooting early and building a 29-point lead in the fourth quarter. They also dominated scoring underneath thanks to a 46-33 rebounding edge and have outscored the Magic 81-43 in the third quarter in the series.

David West had 18 points and 11 rebounds to help the Indiana Pacers beat the Orlando Magic 93-78 on Monday night and even the Eastern Conference first-round series at one game apiece. Danny Granger and George Hill each added 18 points and Paul George had 17 points and eight rebounds for Indiana. Glen Davis led the Magic with 18 points and 10 rebounds, but he shot 5 for 16 from the field. J.J. Redick scored 13 points and Jameer Nelson added 12 for Orlando. The Pacers were heavy favorites in the series because Dwight Howard, Orlando's All-Star center,...

J.J. Redick had six 3-pointers and scored a career-high 31 points as the Orlando Magic held off Charlotte 102-95 on Wednesday night, the Bobcats' 22nd consecutive loss. Ryan Anderson added 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Magic, who snapped a three-game losing streak and secured the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference but lost forward Glen Davis to a sprained right ankle. He is the latest injury to strike the Magic's roster and drain an already shallow pool of Orlando big men following Dwight Howard's season-ending back surgery.

Dwyane Wade scored 27 points, LeBron James had 25 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and the NBA-leading Miami Heat beat the Orlando Magic 90-78 on Sunday for their sixth consecutive victory. With former President Bill Clinton sitting courtside next to Heat managing general partner Micky Arison, Udonis Haslem scored 10 for the Heat, who improved to 25-7, a half-game better than Chicago for the best record in the NBA and the Eastern Conference. The 12-point final margin Sunday was Miami's smallest during its current winning streak.

JaVale McGee scored 17 points, throwing down a half-dozen dunks in the second half, and the Denver Nuggets pulled away to beat the Orlando Magic 101-74 on Sunday night Danilo Gallinari also scored 17, Arron Afflalo had 15 and Ty Lawson 13 for the Nuggets, who swept the two-game season series with Orlando, avoiding the Magic's injured Dwight Howard both times. Ryan Anderson scored 24 points for the Magic, who lost their third straight. Glen Davis added 14 points for Orlando, which also lost guard Jameer Nelson to a calf injury.