Hawks 80, Magic 74
Josh Smith played a great all-around game and the visiting Atlanta Hawks’ defense stymied the Orlando Magic in an 80-74 victory in a Southeast Division matchup Monday.
Smith had 19 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks and Al Horford contributed 16 points and 10 boards for the Hawks, who had a four-game winning streak snapped Saturday in Miami and improved to 8-3 on the road this season.
The Magic shot just 37.8 percent from the field and were held without a field goal for the first 5 ½ minutes of the fourth period as Atlanta took charge.
The Hawks got six points during an 8-2 run to open the fourth that built a 62-55 lead with 7 ½ minutes left in the game. About five minutes later Mike Bibby stuck a dagger three-pointer to push the edge to nine. After the Magic got to within three he nailed another with 26 seconds left.
Dwight Howard had 14 points and 13 rebounds and Vince Carter added 18 points as the Magic played without point guard Jameer Nelson (virus) for a third straight game. Reserves J.J. Redick and Mickeal Pietrus, who along with Howard missed the last two games due to the same virus, returned.
Orlando, which has lost two straight after winning 10 of 11, now starts a four-game West Coast swing with Portland on Thursday.
In an ugly first three quarters in which the teams combined to shoot 37.2 percent, Orlando had a 54-53 lead.