ORLANDO, Fla. - It took about a dozen games, but rookie Bismack Biyombo offered evidence to Charlotte Bobcats fans Tuesday why he was the seventh overall pick in the NBA draft.

He's what Southerners would call "country strong'' and what coach Paul Silas called the one truly tough guy on this roster. Biyombo did his best to stand up to the baddest dude in the NBA - Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard - and for a while, it worked.

Biyombo played a big part in Howard committing five fouls. It wasn't enough to hold off the Magic in the Bobcats' 96-89 loss at Amway Center, but it held promise for the future, concerning the springy 6-foot-9 big man from the Congo.

"He played Dwight tough. He didn't just let him back it in all the way to the rim. He's my toughest player," Silas said of Biyombo, who finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

Biyombo didn't have much to say about his big night except this about Howard: "He's strong....I'm strong, too."

Howard dominated, finishing with 25 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks. But it wasn't such a mismatch that the Bobcats had to send constant double-teams Howard's way, which slowed the Magic's perimeter shooters.

Ryan Anderson, who helped beat the Bobcats in Charlotte in December, shot 4-of-13 Tuesday. Former Duke star J.J. Redick, filling in for injured Jason Richardson, shot 2-of-9.

That, and a great shooting night by the Bobcats' Gerald Henderson (7-of-10 from the field, 22 points), kept the Bobcats in this game until midway through the fourth quarter, when cracks emerged.

Three Bobcats - Tyrus Thomas, Kemba Walker and Derrick Brown - each shot 1-of-3 in the final period. Back-to-back 3's by Von Wafer and Hedo Turkoglu opened an 80-74 Orlando lead with about five minutes left and the Bobcats never challenged after that.

Thomas struggled. After shooting 0-of-3 Monday against Cleveland, he finished 2-of-10 against the Magic and totaled two rebounds in 28 minutes. He's gone through an ankle sprain and a position change (small forward, back to power forward).

Silas stuck with Thomas, despite D.J. White being available on the bench. Silas said he'll be patient, at least for now.

"He has his chance to get it done," Silas said. "If not, then in the future I'll have to make a decision."