Win over Heat may make Howard reconsider

ORLANDO, Fla. Maybe it was the wisdom of Rich DeVos, their ailing, 85-year-old owner who was pushed into the locker room in a wheelchair before the game Wednesday night so he could visit the players he loves. Maybe it was just all those wide-open 3-point shots.Or maybe, just maybe, it was Dwight Howard starting to waver from his trade demand after listening to DeVos, believing he still could win a championship in Orlando before LeBron James does it in Miami.And wouldnt that be something.Whatever it was, the Orlando Magic destroyed the Miami Heat on Wednesday night, leading from start to finish in a 102-89 victory that might be a franchise saver.Games like this can cement people, DeVos said quietly after the game, in the hallway outside the locker room, in the arena named after the company he built. Dwight is in a good place now. When youre young, sometimes you dont always realize it.Howard, playing more inspired than ever, lifted the Magic with 25 points, 24 rebounds and on-the-mark free-throw shooting. He dominated the Heat, who had won nine of their previous 10 games and were looking everything like the championship team they are predicted to be. Until they came to Orlando.James struggled in the second half and missed all eight of his shots. He finished with 17 points. Dwyane Wade had a game-high 33 points, but he never threatened the Magic. While most everyone is predicting Howards imminent departure, urging the Magic to trade him for something anything before he can leave as a free agent this summer, DeVos still is hoping and still believes he can convince him to stay. DeVos has reason for being an optimist. He has lived almost 15 years after his heart transplant in 1997. He wants to win as much as Howard does. He promised him recently that he is keeping the team in the family for exactly that reason, and hell spend whatever it takes to build a winner around Howard.We talk about that. We want to win, too. Everyone wants to win a championship. I want a ring for our players, DeVos said. But you cant change anything until he says hes going to stay. Then you can do a lot of things.DeVos put the percentages of Howard staying at 50-50. Howard, meanwhile, smiled at the mention of his owner after the game. DeVos doesnt come very often. His home is in Michigan, and he doesnt travel very well anymore. This was the fourth game he has seen in person this season.We talk every time he comes, Howard said.On Wednesday, Howard got more than the usual help from his teammates, which was one reason for his trade demand before the season began. He doesnt believe the team is good enough to win a title. (It probably is not.) And he wants to play in a bigger market, like New York, Los Angeles or Dallas.For at least one night, though, his teammates looked good enough. Power forward Ryan Anderson had 27 points and 11 rebounds. The Magic took a franchise record 42 3-point shots and made 17, enough to loosen the defense for Howard inside.They moved the ball well to create open shots. They stood up strong after the Heat rallied in the second quarter. They fought off a charge by the best team in the East. Seven of the nine Magic players hit at least one 3-point shot. They fed Howard when he needed the ball.They all were a little touched by the visit of DeVos, who speaks quietly but with considerable weight.Hes the most genuine and as humble as anyone Ive ever been around, said point guard Jameer Nelson, who trotted over to his courtside seat during the game. Hes been a blessing to all of us, and I think everyone in this locker room just loves him.Nelson, though, hesitated when asked if he thought DeVos could convince Howard to stay.Im not going to go there, Nelson said. Thats not up to me.Anderson, meanwhile, is having his best season, his first as a starter. His defense and rebounding may need work, but his ability to hit shots has been impressive all season. He made 5 of 11 from 3-point range.When we play like this, we can beat just about anyone, Anderson said. Hopefully, that will be good enough.Howard was asked about chasing a championship, something James has spoken about often. Both are looking for their first. It is the reason most of us play this game, Howard said. LeBron and I have gotten all the individual accolades, but there is still one thing missing. And thats the difference between the really good players and the great ones. Both of us are chasing it.