Magic at Hawks
THE STORY: Slumping Atlanta hosts a surging Orlando team on Thursday. The Hawks have lost three straight while the Magic have won six of seven. Playing without leading scorer Joe Johnson, the Hawks were never in Wednesday's game at New York, losing 99-82. Atlanta trailed by 25 points at halftime. Orlando, meanwhile, rolled to a 108-91 win in New Jersey in which the Magic led by as many as 22 points.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Magic), Sports South Atlanta (Hawks).
ABOUT THE MAGIC (22-12): Dwight Howard, in a possible audition for a future trade to New Jersey, scored 20 points, had 17 rebounds and was cheered throughout the game by Nets fans on Wednesday. He's averaging 20.6 points and 16.4 rebounds in the last five games. The Magic have won 10 of 13. Even underachieving forward Glen Davis has been contributing. He scored 16 points Wednesday and is averaging 13.3 points in his last three games.
ABOUT THE HAWKS (19-14): The news keeps getting worse in Atlanta, Not only have the Hawks lost five of six, Johnson is out indefinitely with a sore left knee. He will also sit out against Orlando and won't play in the All-Star Game. Willie Green started in his place against the Knicks and scored 16 points, but that weakens the Hawks' bench. Johnson, who averages 17.6 points a game, will be re-evaluated following the break.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Orlando shot 5-for-15 from the foul line Wednesday. Howard missed eight of 10 attempts.
2. Atlanta got little production from two starters against the Knicks. Forward Marvin Williams was scoreless in 27 minutes while center Zaza Pachulia scored two points in 22 minutes.
3. The Hawks defeated the Magic 89-87 in overtime on Feb. 10. Josh Smith had 23 points and 19 rebounds in the road win.