Maybe change is coming to the NBA hierarchy.

It really won't play out until playoff time, still half a season away.

But there could be a seismic shift, given the tremors produced by the Magic, a team currently so hip (Howard, the all-star vote-leader, is attending Obama's inauguration) and hot (winning 33 of its past 39) that it should play in fireproof designer jerseys.

As the glowing reviews steadily trickle in -- "Right now there's nobody in the NBA playing better than Orlando," says Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers -- the Magic expect to find themselves in the crosshairs of heightened media attention after presenting the latest evidence of their transformation.

"I think the national public is finally waking up to them," Rivers added.

Taking their whirlwind campaign on the road last week, the Magic swept four Western Conference clubs, including wins against three division leaders (the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets).

Another defining trip by the league's top road team (17-5) is the shiny centerpiece of the Magic's 33-8 record.

Not that the Magic haven't improved at home; they take a 16-3 record into their largest and, surely, loudest game this season at Amway Arena on Thursday against Doc's reigning champion Celtics.

But it's their roadwork, built on steely nerves, 3-pointers and Jameer Nelson's guile, that best reflects their rise from curiosity to confident contender.

Orlando set a franchise record last season with 27 road wins and is on pace to win 30-plus this season.

"Playing in these hostile environments, it's matured us, made us tougher," Nelson said. "We kind of know how to win now."

In recording first-ever series sweeps of the Spurs and the Lakers, the Magic pulled out victories by making their usual big, timely shots -- and with some unheralded defense.

Look past the offensive fireworks and you find they rank in the top 5 in fewest points allowed and defensive field-goal percentage.

The Magic trailed the Lakers by eight after halftime but forced six turnovers (for 13 points) in the third to tie it at 58, setting up fourth-quarter heroics similar to the ones that Nelson displayed in San Antonio.

"Our defense got us going. Shots won't fall every night, so you got to play defense, especially on the road," forward Rashard Lewis said.

The Magic and Spurs were tied at 94 with three minutes left until Orlando turned to the weapon that's carried them on the road: the 3-pointer.

J.J. Redick drilled a 3 for a 97-94 lead the Magic would not relinquish, and Nelson hit another. Orlando made 14-of-22 3-pointers on the night.

Check out this head-scratching stat: The Magic shot better than 50 percent from downtown on the trip, making 60 of 113. They set an NBA record for most 3s in a game, lighting up Sacramento with 23.

"I think they shoot more contested 3-pointers than most coaches would allow," Denver Coach George Karl said.

Three-pointers cover up a lot of poor play while deflating defenders. Hedo Turkoglu's 3-pointer heading into the final period gave the sluggish Magic a 79-70 lead and momentum against the Nuggets.

"Turkoglu's shot at the end of the third quarter took the wind out of our sails," Karl said.

The Magic didn't have much left, either, coming off an emotional win in L.A. on Friday night and not arriving in Denver until 5 a.m. "We were all tired. We pushed ourselves to the limit," Howard said.

Said Coach Stan Van Gundy: "We don't make a lot of excuses."

It was a sign of a team growing up before our very eyes, maybe a sign of a new face that'll change the NBA landscape.