(Sports Network) - The Orlando Magic have fallen on hard times lately and look to get back into the win column when they resume a five-game road trip tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center.
Orlando fell to 1-2 on the road swing with back-to-back losses at New Orleans and Oklahoma City. After opening the trek with a win in Dallas to tie a franchise-best nine-game win streak, the Magic suffered a 92-89 overtime loss to the Hornets before dropping a 125-124 decision to the Thunder on Thursday.
"We just couldn't stop them at all, especially (Kevin) Durant and (Russell) Westbrook," said Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. "They average 50 a night but we gave them 68."
Dwight Howard was a force with 39 points and 18 rebounds for Orlando, which got 19 points from Jason Richardson and 18 out of J.J. Redick. Ryan Anderson scored 15 points, as the Magic fell to 10-9 away from home this season. They will close out the trip in Boston on Monday.
Howard led all Eastern Conference players in early All-Star voting returns with more than 1.5 million votes, which were released this week.
Minnesota will wrap up a three-game homestand Saturday and ended a five-game losing streak with Thursday's 109-97 victory over the Washington Wizards.
Kevin Love posted 35 points and 11 rebounds, Luke Ridnour chipped in 16 points and nine assists and Darko Milicic finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who won for just the second time in eight tries.
"We were down four and we stuck together. In a timeout we said 'We could not lose this game.' We had the lead almost all game long...It was a big win for us being down in the fourth quarter and coming back," Milicic said.
The T'Wolves are 8-11 at home as opposed to their 2-19 road record, and sent the Wizards to an 0-19 mark as the guest this season. Love, who made five of six three-pointers in the win, has recorded 26 consecutive double-doubles and leads the team with 21.5 ppg and 10.8 rpg.
Minnesota forward Michael Beasley did not play against the Wizards because of a sprained left ankle and is listed as questionable for tonight. Beasley is second on the team with 20.9 points per game.
Orlando handed the Timberwolves a 128-86 defeat back on Nov. 3 this season at Amway Center, as Howard scored 18 points, pulled down 16 rebounds and blocked eight shots in that one. The Magic have won five straight in the series and are unbeaten in the past four matchups in the Twin Cities.