Howard dominates Hawks as Magic reclaim Southeast lead

By Dick Scanlon, for NBA.com
Posted Saturday January 30, 2010 11:30PM

ORLANDO (NBA.com exclusive) -- Sometimes Dwight Howard is a little too much.

On Saturday night, the Orlando Magic's center was way too much for the Atlanta Hawks, putting up 31 points and 19 rebounds in a 104-86 victory that lifted the Magic (31-16) above the Hawks (30-16) in the Southeast Division.

"We definitely match up well with them," said Magic forward Rashard Lewis. "They don't have anybody that can guard Dwight inside. They were in foul trouble all night; anybody that tried to guard him always had to foul."

Howard drew 13 fouls on Atlanta's overmatched trio of centers. Jason Collins relieved starter Al Horford in the first quarter and was whistled for three fouls in less than two minutes. Zaza Pachulia fouled out in less than 14 minutes.

"Whenever you get a big man dominant like he is, you try to wrap him up down low," said Hawks forward Josh Smith, "and he is able to knock down free throws . . . then what's the use of fouling him?"

Howard converted 11-of-18 free throws, but that was only part of the show. He scored on a fast break and on a variety of jump hooks with either hand.

"He has added a little touch," noted Smith, a remark that brought a grin to Howard's face.

"I don't remember anybody saying I was too finesse," he said. "They said I was too silly; that's what it was."

It was the Magic's sixth straight victory against the Hawks since Atlanta won the season opener on Oct. 29, 2008. The Magic's three victories this season have been by an average of more than 22 points.

"I think we match up well with pretty much anybody else except this team," said Joe Johnson, who led the Hawks with 19 points. "They pretty much have their way with us. I'm sure the coaches will come up with something, but I don't know what to do."

Marvin Williams and Mike Bibby hit 3-pointers on a 10-0 run that netted the Hawks a 10-point lead early in the game. But they went more than 4 1/2 minutes without scoring and the rest of the game was all Magic, although the margin was only five at halftime.

"We looked fatigued," said coach Mike Woodson, a night after his Hawks had beaten Boston convincingly.

"I'm not blaming it on back-to-back games," Woodson added. "We've been fairly good on back-to-back games, but it was like the energy was sucked out of us in the third quarter. Their defense picked up and Howard, being a a load down on the block . . . we've got to figure it out."

Lewis hit a couple of 3-pointers early in the third quarter, and Orlando's lead reached 14 after Howard's three-point play and reverse layup. The bench took over from there, stretching the lead to 20 late in the game.

"We started a little slow and the Hawks made a big run, but we settled down and battled back," Howard said. "I think we did an excellent job of playing inside-out tonight and running the ball. But also on the defensive end, you see a big difference from the first part of the season to now. We're talking more and everybody's rotating earlier.

That's a great sign for us."

The Magic have won five of six, and a win at Detroit on Sunday would make coach Stan Van Gundy the coach of the Eastern Conference team in the All-Star Game on Feb. 14. Only a Magic loss and a Boston win over the Lakers would deprive Van Gundy of the honor, although he's not sure it is an honor.

"If you've go the best record, then it's an honor," Van Gundy said.

"That's not the case."

Cleveland has the East's best record, but Cavs coach Mike Brown coached the East All-Stars last season and league rules preclude a coach doing it twice in a row.

• Hawks: Morris
• Magic: Foyle

• Hawks: Woodson
• Magic: --

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: Amway Arena, Orlando, FL
• Officials: #14 Joe DeRosa, #60 David Guthrie, #61 Courtney Kirkland
• Attendance: 17461
• Duration: 2:16