By ANTONIO GONZALEZ
Associated Press Writer

ORLANDO, Fla.(AP) -- The high-flying layups. The fall-away
jumpers. The step-back 3-pointers.

Vinsanity was back.

Vince Carter had a season-high 48 points, leading the Orlando
Magic back from a 17-point second-half deficit to beat the New
Orleans Hornets 123-117 on Monday night.

After one of the most sensational games in his storied career,
all Carter could do was shake his head and smile.

"Been a while," he said.

Shooting just 28 percent in January and being booed on his home
floor suddenly seems like a distant memory since the calendar
flipped. The kid from nearby Daytona Beach had his adopted
hometown fans with their jaws dropped like never before in a
Magic uniform.

"It's a new month. A new month brings new things. The past is
the past, and it's going to be that," Carter said. "I've had
rough months. That's just how it goes. And I know the
expectations, and you work so hard to have an impressive resume,
so it's expected each and every night. I understand that, and I
don't have a problem with that.

"I don't mind being booed because I know what I can do. So I was
just going to continue to play and shine through."

He do so in thrilling fashion.

Carter was 19 for 27 shooting and had 34 points in the second
half with some of the most sizzling moves since he joined the
Magic, who have won nine of their last 11 games. He added seven
rebounds, two assists and a stockpile of highlights to his
already illustrious career.

"I've never see anybody do that on my team," point guard Jameer
Nelson said. "I called his number like six times in a row, and
he made it six times in a row."

Peja Stojakovic had 29 points, and Darren Collison and David
West added 27 points apiece for the Hornets, who have lost four
of five since Chris Paul went down with an injured left knee.

But there was no stopping Carter.

It was the most points by a Magic player since Tracy McGrady -
Carter's cousin - had 62 points against Washington on March 10,
2004.

"He was unbelievable," Stojakovic said. "He made some really
tough shots over two guys or three guys."

There were plenty of other fireworks, but eventually, Carter
stole the show.

Darius Songaila was called for a flagrant-one foul with 6:21
left in the fourth after he wrapped up Dwight Howard and tossed
him to the ground. Howard made the free throws, then Carter had
a jumper and a step-back 3-pointer at the top of the key to tie
the game at 106.

Carter followed that by slicing into the lane and finishing
strong with his right hand for a layup, drawing a foul on James
Posey for a three-point play. He would later hit another
3-pointer - his sixth of the game - and stand near midcourt,
soaking in the celebration, pumping his chest and popping his
jersey.

"It was a great feeling," Carter said. "When you're rolling like
that for your team, it's a great feeling. We have so many
weapons, and just because of that I never imagined to be able to
come out here and have a game like that."

He wasn't done.

Carter would add a fall-away floater over Posey from the
baseline to extend Orlando's lead to 116-110, and he would later
make a pair of free throws to seal the win.

It was by far Carter's best performance since he was traded from
New Jersey in the offseason, finishing three shy of his career
high. The eight-time All-Star expected to be Orlando's missing
piece to a title was back in peak form, and the Magic can only
hope he stays there.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, who was infuriated by the constant
questions over Carter's struggles in January, perhaps summed it
up best in his opening comments.

"I know one regular question I'm not getting tonight, 'What's
wrong with Vince?' Anybody got that question tonight," he said,
laughing. "That was incredible. That was unbelievable."

The short-handed Hornets had no answer."

"That was good defense on him for the most part," West said. "We
just couldn't keep him contained."

Playing without the injured Paul and Marcus Thornton (lower
back), they just couldn't keep pace at the end. Early on, the
Hornets seemed just fine without their injured backcourt.

West closed the half with two straight three-point plays, the
last coming on a fast-break layup, losing his balance and
falling into the media table behind the basket after being
fouled by Howard. West's free throw gave New Orleans a 70-55
lead at the break.

But it was Carter who carried the Magic back.

"It's one of those games that, even us as coaches, this is one
of those games that if you were here tonight you'll talk about,"
Van Gundy said. "Remember the game where Vince got 48?
Unfortunately, most of the memories I have are against us.
Remember when (Dwyane) Wade got 50? That was against us. So now
I've got one."

NOTES: Hornets coach Jeff Bower said before the game that he was
happy for the city of New Orleans that the Saints beat the Colts
in the Super Bowl. "It just really makes you feel good," Bower
said. "We're fans like everybody else." ... A winter snow storm
expected to hit the Midwest in the next couple days could
threaten Orlando's travel plans. The Magic play at Chicago on
Wednesday and at Cleveland on Thursday. "I hope we can get in. I
just want to make sure we can get out," Van Gundy said,
laughing.