After taking a modest early lead and watching the Magic eventually tie it in the first quarter, the Hawks decided to take control of the game in the second. Atlanta took a 14-point lead on an 11-3 run starting about midway through the quarter and were still holding a nine-point advantage at the half.
Hawks Vs. Magic Score: Atlanta Takes Control Behind Joe Johnson’s 17 Points
Orlando’s three-point shooting has been less than stellar, with the Magic making just four of their 14 attempts (28.6 percent). Jameer Nelson has missed all four of his shots from behind the arc. Hedo Turkoglu is 0-for-3 on the night from deep.
Jason Richardson leads the Magic so far with 11 points. Dwight Howard has scored only nine at the half. No other Orlando player has seven or more points, a mark matched by four Hawks: Joe Johnson (17), Kirk Hinrich (eight), Josh Smith (eight) and Al Horford (seven).
Atlanta, for its part, has shot 54.8 percent from the field and four of its seven shots behind the arc. But the Hawks have also rung up 15 fouls, which could make it tricky to manage things in the second half, particularly given Larry Drew’s handling of those issues.
Follow along with this StoryStream for updates. And for more on these teams, check out SB Nation’s Hawks blog, Peachtree Hoops, and our Magic blog, Orlando Pinstriped Post.
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