Final Score: Orlando 105, New York 90

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Dwight Howard tallied 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, as the Orlando Magic welcomed back star forward Grant Hill with a 105-90 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Hill started the game and scored seven points, all in the first half, in just over 22 minutes of action. The Duke product played three games during the preseason, but developed a sports hernia in late October and missed the team's first 19 games, during which time Orlando compiled an 8-11 record.

"I expected to be a little rusty, but it's good to get out there with the guys," said Hill.

The former All-Star played in 67 games for the Magic last season, averaging 19.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists. It was more games than the injury- plagued forward had played in the three previous campaigns combined with Orlando (47).

Hedo Turkoglu led a solid effort from the Magic bench with 18 points, while Pat Garrity scored 17 points and Jameer Nelson added 11 in the victory.

Orlando's bench outscored New York's, 48-18.

DeShawn Stevenson contributed 11 points and Steve Francis tallied 10 points for the Magic, who have won two straight games.

Eddy Curry led the Knicks with 23 points and Quentin Richardson added 16 points in the loss.

Stephon Marbury scored 13 points, while Trevor Ariza and Channing Frye each contributed 10 points for the Knicks, who have lost four straight games.

Early in the fourth quarter, the 6-foot-3 Francis dribbled baseline, elevated and converted a one-hand slam over Richardson while getting fouled. The highlight-reel three-point play gave the Magic a 75-64 lead.

After Malik Rose converted a layup, Francis hit a step-back jumper from the right wing and Turkoglu drained a three-pointer to open up an 80-66 edge.

Garrity's three-pointer from the top of the circle gave Orlando an 86-68 lead with about 7 1/2 minutes to go.

The Knicks never threatened the rest of the way.

Hill made his first field goal of the season with just over five minutes to play in the opening quarter, and Orlando took a slim 25-24 advantage into the second.

The Magic tallied the first eight points of the second stanza to open a 33-24 edge. Garrity buried back-to-back treys and Battie's short jumper forced a quick Knicks timeout.

Hill's rousing return to the NBA stage was stamped by a buzzer-beating trey to end the first half, capping a 9-0 Orlando run that increased its lead to 54-39.

"We had 11 turnovers in the first half," said Knicks head coach Larry Brown. "No matter how we defend or not, when you have turnovers and give up easy baskets it puts you in a hole."

The forward tallied four of the team's final nine points and scored seven in the half. Howard led Orlando with 12 first-half points and Curry scored 10 points for the Knicks.

Orlando maintained its double-digit advantage, 72-62, after three quarters.

Game Notes

Orlando is 4-5 on the road this season, while New York is 3-5 at home...Orlando has won 10 of the last 16 meetings and has come out victorious in six of its last eight trips to the Garden...New York held a 14-0 edge in fast-break points...Orlando shot 48.7 percent from the floor, while New York made 45.9 percent of its shots...Frye grabbed nine rebounds.

12/14 23:24:46 ET