Lakers 106, Magic 97: Dwight Howard had a season-high 39 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as Los Angeles won in his much-anticipated return to Orlando as a visiting player.

The Magic repeatedly fouled the notoriously poor free-throw shooter and Howard tied his own NBA record by attempting 39 free throws. He made 25 of those attempts and blocked three shots against the squad he played for over his first eight NBA seasons.

Metta World Peace added 14 points as the Lakers moved within a half-game of the seventh-place Houston Rockets in the Western Conference playoff race. Jameer Nelson scored 21 points, Tobias Harris had 17 points and 15 rebounds and Arron Afflalo scored 17 points for the Magic, who have the NBA’s second-worst record in the aftermath of trading Howard to the Lakers.

The contest was tied at 59 near the midway point of the third quarter before Los Angeles rolled off 12 straight points, ending with Kobe Bryant’s 3-pointer with 3:32 left.

The advantage reached 84-68 on Antawn Jamison’s basket two minutes into the fourth quarter and Orlando never made a significant run.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Bryant had just 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting. … Orlando shot 39.8 percent from the field, including 10-of-32 from 3-point range. … Howard first set the NBA record of 39 free throws against Golden State last January, when he played for the Magic. The former Lakers’ record was 31 by Shaquille O’Neal, set against the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 19, 1999.
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