CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Dwight Howard had 15 points and 10 rebounds, Vince Carter scored 15 in his return from a sprained ankle, and the Orlando Magic bounced back from an ugly loss to beat the Charlotte Bobcats 93-81 on Tuesday night.

Two nights after losing by 28 points in Oklahoma City, the Magic built a big lead with the help of Carter, who had missed four of the past five games. Brandon Bass scored 12 of his 14 points in the first quarter as Orlando tuned up for Wednesday's home game with Cleveland, a rematch of the Eastern Conference finals.

Raymond Felton had 18 points and Boris Diaw added 14 for Charlotte, which cut a 22-point first-half deficit to six early in the fourth quarter but could get no closer in its second straight loss.