The Orlando Magic bounced back from a Game 1 loss to the Atlanta Hawks by winning Game 2, albeit in ugly fashion. Now, they'll look to ride Dwight Howard and take a 2-1 series lead against the Hawks in Atlanta at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
Magic Vs. Hawks, Game 3: Dwight Howard, Orlando Look For Series Lead
Howard followed up his 46-point performance in a losing effort in Game 1 Saturday with a 33-point, 19-rebound effort in Game 2. This time, the Magic actually won the game, grinding their way to an 88-82 win despite a late push by the Hawks. It was hardly the signature win a series favorite should have after losing Game 1, but it's also not that shocking given Orlando's horrendous roster outside of Howard. Players outside of Howard shot 18-66 from the field, with fellow starters Jameer Nelson, Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu shooting just 11 of 43.
Luckily for Orlando, the Hawks weren't very good in Game 2 either. Jamal Crawford exploded for 25 points off the bench and Josh Smith added 17, but the rest of the Hawks didn't show up. Al Horford struggled with self-imposed foul trouble, and Joe Johnson had an off shooting night. They will need to shoot significantly better if they want to get a win in Atlanta.
Be sure to keep up with our full Magic vs. Hawks hub. For more on the Magic, visit Orlando Pinstriped Post. For more on the Hawks, check out Peachtree Hoops and SB Nation Atlanta.
See More:
