Dwight Howard breaks free throw record

Dwight Howard (pictured), broke Wilt Chamberlain‘s nearly 50-year-old NBA record for the most free throw attempts in a game, making 21 of 39 in the Orlando Magic’s 117-109 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.

The Warriors hacked Howard intentionally throughout, sending the notoriously poor shooter to the line in record-setting fashion. Chamberlain shot 34 for the Philadelphia Warriors against St. Louis on February 22, 1962.

Howard finished with 45 points and 23 rebounds, and Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 points to propel the Magic to their third straight victory. Monta Ellis had 30 points and 11 assists, and David Lee added 26 points and 12 rebounds for the short-handed Warriors, playing without starters Stephen Curry and Dorell Wright.

Howard had never shot more than 24 free throws in a game, which he had four times previously, and fouled so early. Certainly, nothing compared to the Warriors’ ways.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.