Blazers' center Greg Oden matched up with Magic center Dwight Howard for the first time earlier this week and came away rather impressed.

"He's strong. That's all you can really say," Oden said after his Blazers fell to the Magic.

"He's one of the best for a reason. Whenever you go up against somebody that strong and good you are always going to take something from it."

Howard's 14 points and 7 rebounds dwarfed Oden's two points and lone rebound.