Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Rashard Lewis hit four three-pointers and ended with a team-high 22 points, as the Orlando Magic once again dominated the Atlanta Hawks, 105-75, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
5:00 P.M.: Hawks Try To Salvage Some Dignity Vs. Magic In Game 3
A return to Philips Arena, where they went 34-7 during the regular season, figured to give the Hawks a boost after they lost the first two games of the series by a combined 57 points in Orlando.
But a lifeless crowd and Orlando’s 50.7-percent shooting effort resulted in the 14th straight loss in conference semifinal games for the Hawks, who will try to avoid getting swept on Monday. No team in NBA history has ever recovered from a 3-0 series deficit.
Dwight Howard recorded 21 points and 16 rebounds, while Jameer Nelson and Mickael Pietrus chipped in 14 and 13 points, respectively, for the Magic, who have won 13 straight dating back to the regular season.
Jamal Crawford had 22 points, while Josh Smith added 15 and 11 rebounds for the Hawks, who shot 34.9 percent from the field.
All-Stars Al Horford and Joe Johnson totaled 11 and eight points, respectively, in the setback. Johnson, who is scheduled to become a free agent in the offseason, was particularly ineffective, making a mere 3-of-15 from the field.
The Hawks shot 7-of-22 from the field in the first quarter and trailed 28-18 following a late Marcin Gortat dunk.
Lewis hit a three-pointer less than four minutes into the second for a 38-22 edge, and ended the half with another uncontested three -- Orlando’s fifth of the stanza -- for a comfortable 52-33 cushion.
The break at halftime did little to ignite the downtrodden Hawks, who got as close as 18 in the third. Consecutive Lewis turnaround jumpers around the four-minute mark of the quarter extended the margin to 73-47.
A 10-0 run -- capped by a Howard hook shot -- made it a 90-59 game early in the fourth and ended any hope of a miraculous comeback by the hosts. The largest differential was 32.
The Hawks are a dismal 0-13 all-time in conference semifinal series since the round was renamed as such in 1971...The two teams have met just one time previously in the postseason, a 4-1 Magic win in the 1995-96 Eastern Conference semifinals...Vince Carter was 2-of-5 from the field and had seven points for Orlando, which won the battle on the glass, 51-34...Matt Barnes added 11 points for the Magic.
Via Sports Network
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