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Dwight Howard Booed In Orlando, Fouled By Magic Players As Lakers Win (VIDEO)

WATCH: Dwight Booed, Fouled In Return To Orlando
By 

Sports Editor, The Huffington Post

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Fans in Orlando let Dwight Howard hear how they felt. His former teammates let him feel it.

In his first game back in his old stomping ground since being traded to Los Angeles during the offseason, Howard received the welcome expected. After being booed, loudly, as the visiting Lakers were introduced, Howard absorbed 24 personal fouls.

Whether it was deployed in response to Howard's recent digs at his former teammates or in hopes of exploiting his historic deficiencies at the line, the Magic's hack-a-Dwight strategy sent Howard to the free throw line for an NBA-record tying 39 attempts. He made 25 of those shots. Howard had previously set the attempts record while wearing a Magic uniform in 2012. He tied it while wearing Magic players for much of the second half on Tuesday night. Thanks in large part to Howard's season-high 39 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks, the Lakers emerged from with a 106-97 win, their fourth in a row.

"I wasn't nervous tonight," Howard told the Orlando Sentinel after game. "I was looking forward to coming back and playing here. I was happy to be here. It was a fun game. It was a hostile environment, but I think it was something that was good for me in my progress as a player, and I think I needed that tonight."

PHOTOS: Dwight Returns To Orlando
Dwight Howard(01 of18)
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A billboard sponsored by an Orlando radio station displays a message in reference to former Orlando Magic NBA basketball player Dwight Howard, Monday, March 11, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. Last season, Howard took the Magic through a daily soap opera that ended with him becoming the second star in team history to bolt for the Los Angeles Lakers. He returns to the city he jilted Tuesday, and is prepared for a bitter reception. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
Dwight Howard(02 of18)
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Orlando Magic fans hold up signs directed at Los Angeles Lakers' Dwight Howard during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
Dwight Howard(03 of18)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Dwight Howard warms up prior to an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
(04 of18)
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Orlando Magic fans hold up signs and shout at Los Angeles Lakers' Dwight Howard as he takes the court prior to an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
Kobe Bryant, Arron Afflalo(05 of18)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (24) takes a shot over Orlando Magic's Arron Afflalo (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
Dwight Howard, Tobias Harris(06 of18)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Dwight Howard (12) makes a shot over Orlando Magic's Tobias Harris, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
Steve Nash, Tobias Harris(07 of18)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Steve Nash, right, attempts a shot over Orlando Magic's Tobias Harris, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
Kobe Bryant, Nikola Vucevic(08 of18)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, right, grabs a rebound in front of Orlando Magic's Nikola Vucevic (9), of Montenegro, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
Dwight Howard, Tobias Harris, Jameer Nelson, Nikola Vucevic(09 of18)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Dwight Howard, center, struggles to get to the basket as he is caught between Orlando Magic players from left, Tobias Harris (12), Jameer Nelson (14) and Nikola Vucevic, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
Jameer Nelson, Dwight Howard(10 of18)
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Former teammates Orlando Magic's Jameer Nelson, left, and Los Angeles Lakers' Dwight Howard (12) shake hands before leaving the court at the end of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. Los Angeles won the game 106-97.(AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
Dwight Howard, Nikola Vucevic, Arron Afflalo(11 of18)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Dwight Howard (12) takes a shot in front of Orlando Magic's Nikola Vucevic (9), of Montenegro, and Arron Afflalo (4) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. Los Angeles won the game 106-97.(AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
Dwight Howard, Nikola Vucevic(12 of18)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Dwight Howard (12) grabs a rebound in front of Orlando Magic's Nikola Vucevic, of Montenegro, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. Los Angeles won the game 106-97.(AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
Jameer Nelson, Dwight Howard(13 of18)
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Orlando Magic's Jameer Nelson (14) drive around Los Angeles Lakers' Dwight Howard (12) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. Los Angeles won the game 106-97.(AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
Tobias Harris, Earl Clark, Al Harrington, Antawn Jamison(14 of18)
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Orlando Magic's Tobias Harris (12) grabs a rebound before going back up for a shot in front of Los Angeles Lakers' Earl Clark (6) as Orlando Magic's Al Harrington (3) holds back Los Angeles Lakers' Antawn Jamison, back right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
Dwight Howard(15 of18)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Dwight Howard reacts to fans shouting at him during the final moments of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. Los Angeles won the game 106-97.(AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
Kobe Bryant, Nikola Vucevic(16 of18)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (24) makes move to get around Orlando Magic's Nikola Vucevic, of Montenegro, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. Los Angeles won the game 106-97.(AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
Metta World Peace, Nikola Vucevic(17 of18)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Metta World Peace (15) and Orlando Magic's Nikola Vucevic (9), of Montenegro, fight for a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. Los Angeles won the game 106-97.(AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)
Dwight Howard(18 of18)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Dwight Howard (12) smiles as walks on the court after a time out late in the fourth quarter during an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. Los Angeles won the game 106-97.(AP Photo/John Raoux) (credit:AP)

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