MAGIC: GAMETIME: 03/10/08 vs. Atlanta

FINAL: Orlando Magic 123 - Atlanta Hawks 112

March 10, 2008 - Amway Arena

	1	2	3	4	F
HAWKS	26	27	32	27	112
MAGIC	38	36	25	24	123

By Nick Adams | OrlandoMagic.com

FOURTH QUARTER
Howard and Zaza Pachulia, who has the largest head I have ever seen in person, get tangled up and Howard heads to the line. Howards calmly strokes both to score the first points of the final period.

Things are starting to get a little rowdy as the Hawks are hacking Dwight and Howard is having something to say about it. Howard gets called for a technical when he pushes Zaza in the back.

Bogans and Josh Smith trade threes as the Magic take a 105-90 lead with eight minutes remaining in the game.

Carlos Arroyo hits the Magic's 14th triple of the night bringing the two shy of their season-high for three-pointers made. Arroyo becomes the sixth Magic double figure scorer by throwing in another jumper.

The teams continue to trade baskets and Bogans gets his 19th point off the bench by drilling another Magic three-pointer. Hedo finally gets his 10th rebound to give him his second career triple-double. Marcin Gortat checks in for the Magic and the Amway crowd begins to pile out with the Magic leading 122-104 with two minutes left.

Both teams clear their benches as the reserves come in symbolically waving the game's white flag.

The games ends in an eleven point Magic victory.

Final: Orlando Magic 123, Atlanta Hawks 112

THIRD QUARTER
Let's hope the Magic can carry over their superb first half by coming out strong here to start the second half. The Magic shot 61 percent from the field, shot 56 from beyond the arc, dished out 17 assists, and committed just two turnovers. The 74 first half points is a franchise record for the Magic for a half.

Bibby scores the first points of the second half by drilling a jumper and Williams follows with another Hawk jumper. Howard and Turk, who dominated the first half, score back-to-back hoops.

As if the first half wasn't a track meet, the second half starts out even more frantic pace. Joe Johnson scores a jumper for the Hawks drawing Van Gundy off his seat to call a timeout with the Magic leading 81-68, three and a half minutes into the third period.

Van Gundy's play out of the timeout works to perfection as Turk finds Lewis in the corner for another trey. Turk is well on his way to his second career triple double as he has tallied 19 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists not even halfway through the third.

Evans and Nelson get back-to-back offensive tip-ins to push the Magic lead back to 20 points. Bibby hits his 12th point of the third period but the Magic are on fire and answer back with a Turk layup and a Lewis triple.

The back-and-forth game continues as Bibby strokes another bucket from beyond the arc to cut the Magic lead to 12 points. Howard volleyball swats a Horford shot attempt as the Hawks call a timeout trailing the Magic 95-83 as we head under three minutes remaining in the third.

The Magic close out the half well and take a 99-85 lead into the final period.

End of Third: Orlando Magic 99, Atlanta Hawks 85

SECOND QUARTER
Marvin Williams scores the first points of the second period by posterizing Brain Cook with a one-handed slam plus the foul. Williams converts the three-point play and Arroyo scores the first Magic points of the second quarter on a tough layup.

Salim Stoudamire is feeling it tonight and he strokes his third triple of the ballgame to force a Van Gundy timeout as the Hawks have cut the Magic lead to 40-35, three minutes into the second.

Joe Johnson buckets another triple for the Hawks as Atlanta has outscored the Magic 12-2 to start the period.

Turk drills a three from his spot on the left wing and follows up the next possession by tallying two from the charity stripe to give the Magic a 51-42 lead halfway through the quarter.

A triple by Arroyo puts the Magic back ahead by 13 points forcing a timeout from the Hawks.

The timeout does not help the Hawks any as Bogans strokes another trey for the Magic. Orlando is shooting an outstanding 7-of-13 from beyond the arc tonight.

Arroyo throws behind his head to a trailing Howard who flushes home an alley-oop dunk to bring the Amway crowd to their feet. The crowd really gets into it when Turk drills another three and the follows the next possession by dishing Howard for a transition layup plus the foul. The dish is Turk's 10th assist of the first half.

Howard can't convert the three-point play but the Magic have built a commanding 67-49 lead as we head to the two minute warning in the first half.

Adonal Foyle gets into the act throwing in a hook shot to put the Magic ahead by their largest margin at 20 points. Turk drills a step back three to conclude the half with the Magic leading 74-53.

Halftime: Orlando Magic 74, Atlanta Hawks 53

FIRST QUARTER
What's up Magic fans and welcome to Amway Arena for tonight's game as the Magic get ready to square off against divisional rival the Atlanta Hawks.

The two teams meet at center court as Dwight Howard and Josh Smith compete for tonight's opening tip. Howards taps back to Jameer Nelson as the Magic control the first possession tonight. Joining Nelson and Howard for the Magic is Mo Evans, Hedo Turkoglu, and Rashard Lewis. Joining Smith for the Hawks is Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, and Al Horford.

The Magic waste no time getting started as Turkolgu feeds Mo Evans for a two-handed slam. Horford answers quickly back for the Hawks converting a layup.

Howard banks home a jump hook and Nelson hits his second three-pointer of the ballgame to cap off a 10-0 Magic run forcing a timeout from the Atlanta bench with the Magic leading 12-2, three minutes into the first period.

The Hawks come storming back and Bibby cans a triple to bring Atlanta back within six but Howard answers converting a three-point play.

Both teams have come out shooting the ball well as Orlando is shooting 62 percent and Atlanta 56 percent from the field.

Nelson and Howard run a pick-and-roll to perfection as Nelson feeds Howard for an easy alley-oop dunk to give the Magic a 22-13 lead halfway through the first.

The teams continue their superb shooting as Evans nets a trey and Joe Johnson drills one of his own. Nelson gets his ninth point of the first quarter on a layup and Johnson gets his ninth sinking a floater in the lane.

Much like the first quarter against the Warriors on Saturday night, the game is a track meet, but let's up unlike Saturday the Magic can keep it going through the entire game.

Bogans comes off the bench and gets into the action making good on an easy layin to give the Magic a 34-24 lead as we head under two mintues remaining in the first.

Lewis drops in two more from the charity stripe and Salim Stoudamire strokes a three-pointer for the Hawks as the quarter ends with the Magic leading by 12.

End of First: Orlando Magic 38, Atlanta Hawks 26

KEYS TO THE GAME
Defend the Pick-and-Roll
With the addition of Mike Bibby, the Hawks have a point guard who makes good decisions and thrives off of a pick-and-roll offense because of his abilities to shoot and pass the basketball. Bibby can use the screen to shoot, find players like Al Horford and Josh Smith rolling to the basket, or penetrate and dish to Joe Johnson for a perimeter jumper.

If the Magic don't figure out how to successfully guard the pick-and-roll tonight, they will be at a major disadvantage.

Take it Strong Inside
As stated below, the Hawks are third in the league in blocks, but that is no reason to avoid taking the ball to the basket while settling for jump shots.

It just means that the Magic must be aware of Atlanta's shot blockers and take the ball to the rim strong.

SHOOTAROUND
Despite having a record of ten games below .500, the Atlanta Hawks (26-36) currently sit eighth in the Eastern Conference and are a team which has given the Magic problems of late.

The Magic have lost four out of their last five meetings with the Hawks including a 98-87 loss at home in the two teams' only meeting this season.

Head coach Stan Van Gundy and the Magic are well aware of Atlanta's talent and Monday morning's shootaround at RDV Sportsplex was focused on coming out ready to play.

"We just have to come out focused and ready to play against a team who we have struggled against recently," Rashard Lewis stated.

"They are a good team," added Hedo Turkoglu. "It will be a good challenge for us because they are a young and athletic team who likes to run. We have to come out, match their energy, and outplay them at home."

Young and athletic were the two words the Magic used the most in describing the Hawks as Van Gundy commented on Atlanta's ability to defend near the rim.

"The Hawks are a very long, athletic team who is very tough to score on around the basket."

Atlanta ranks third in the league in blocks per game at 5.72 led by the league's second best shot blocker, forward Josh Smith who averages 3.1 rejections a night.

"He (Smith) is one of the best shot blockers in the league, and is very active defensively giving great help," commented Van Gundy. "He is very tough around the basket."

As stated below, Smith tore up the Magic in the two teams' last meeting but Rashard Lewis, who will check Smith for most of the night has a game plan to try and contain Smith.

"with Josh Smith we need to keep him out of the paint and force him into jump shots."

Shooting has not been the Hawks' forte this season as Atlanta ranking 21st in field-goal percentage, but got some help in acquiring a proven shooting point guard in Mike Bibby.

Turkoglu, who spent two seasons as Bibby's teammate in Sacramento, knows Bibby's abilities better than anybody and states what the Magic must do to contain him.

"He (Bibby) is a good player. He can hurt a lot of teams because he is a good shooter and passer and works well off the pick and roll so we need to just be physical with him to deny him of what he wants to do."

Van Gundy echoed Turkoglu's comments, "He gives them a veteran leader who can shoot the ball, and shooting has been a problem for them, so then instantly improve."

Another reason for Atlanta's improvement this season has been the play of rookie Al Horford.

Horford, Atlanta's third overall selection in the 2007 NBA draft, just grabbed Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors for February and is averaging 9.7 points and a team-high 9.9 rebounds in his first season.

"He's had an unbelievable rookie year and he is guy who plays hard, runs the floor, gets after it defensively, and works the glass," stated Van Gundy. "On top of all that he can score, so he is a guy who doesn't really have many holes in his game."

Van Gundy and the Magic seem to have their work cut out for them as they go for their 41st victory of the season.

PREGAME
The Orlando Magic seek to increase their Southeast Division lead Monday night as they gear up to host their divisional rival the Atlanta Hawks at Amway Arena.

The Magic look for revenge against the Hawks who came into Amway in mid-December and handed Orlando a 98-87 loss in the two teams only meeting of the season.

Atlanta held the Magic, who rank fifth in the league in team field-goal percentage at 47 percent, to just 39 percent shooting while keeping Dwight Howard in check with 14 points.

Josh Smith filled up the stat sheet tallying a game-high 25 points, 16 rebounds, four steals, and four blocks, while teammate Joe Johnson added 24 points in leading the Hawks to victory.

Johnson (21.0 ppg) and Smith (17.2 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.1 bpg) lead a very young and talented Atlanta squad who just overtook the New Jersey Nets for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 26-36 record.

Atlanta's youth has been exploited on the road this season as the Hawks are just 7-24 away from Atlanta.

On February 16th, the Hawks made a move toward experience and added a much needed veteran backcourt leader when they acquired point guard Mike Bibby in a trade with the Sacramento Kings.

Although Atlanta is just 5-8 with Bibby, who has averaged 11.8 points and 6.4 assists since joining the Hawks, the team has all the pieces in place to make a run toward the post-season.

Orlando (40-24) hopes to slow down Atlanta's run as the Magic aim to distance themselves by increasing their 13 game division lead on the Hawks Monday night.

MAGIC INJURY REPORT
Tony Battie � Out, torn rotator cuff, left shoulder � underwent successful surgery on Oct. 24; will likely miss the entire season.

TONIGHT�S OPPONENT:
Mar. 10 vs. Atlanta (Orlando, FL): Orlando is 36-34 all-time vs. Atlanta (25-11 at home, 11-23 on the road) during regular season action, including 0-1 this season (see recap below)�The Magic went 1-3 last season against the Hawks�Orlando is 4-1 vs. the Hawks during the playoffs (1996 East Semis)...The Magic have lost six of the last 11 regular season meetings with the Hawks...Orlando has won five of seven and 13 of the last 16 matchups at home, but has lost the last five meetings on the road (last win @ Atlanta: Nov. 26, 2004, 117-99)�Dwight Howard attended SW Atlanta Christian Academy�Trainer Tom Smith worked with the Hawks for six seasons from 2000-05 as the assistant athletic trainer�For last season�s stats and Magic career numbers vs. Atlanta, see p. 233 of the media guide� Dec. 10 vs. Atlanta � Hawks 98, Magic 87: Josh Smith tallied 25 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, four steals and four blocked shots, as Atlanta defeated Orlando, 98-87, at Amway Arena. Joe Johnson netted 24 points for the Hawks, while Anthony Johnson added 15. Hedo Turkoglu led the way for the Magic with 22 points, while Dwight Howard ripped down a game-high 18 rebounds. Both teams struggled from the floor � Atlanta shot 42.7 percent while Orlando shot 39.7 percent. The Magic committed 19 turnovers which led to 29 Atlanta points.
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. HAWKS: 40 pts., Tracy McGrady (@ Atlanta, 12-8-01)
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. MAGIC: 40 pts., Joe Johnson (@ Atlanta, 3-19-06)