Hawks at Magic
The battle to avoid last place in the Eastern Conference takes on a head-to-head feel when the Orlando Magic host the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. The Hawks currently occupy the basement but are just a half-game back after winning two in a row.
Atlanta edged the New York Knicks 99-96 on Sunday before dominating the Memphis Grizzlies 108-82 at home on Tuesday behind 22 points in 25 minutes from point guard Dennis Schroder. The Hawks, who have yet to string together three wins this season, did not have a player log more than 29 minutes against the Grizzlies while shooting 50.6 percent from the field and forcing 27 turnovers. The Magic are winners of two straight as well and overcame a 21-point first-half deficit against the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 116-98 triumph on Tuesday. "Earlier in the year, when we were down 20, it would turn into a 40-point loss," Orlando guard Shelvin Mack told the team's website. "We continue to grind, continue to stay positive and play hard. We make sure that you have to play the full 48 minutes against us."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), FS Florida (Orlando)
ABOUT THE HAWKS (17-37): Schroder was held to 10 points on 2-of-16 shooting at New York on Sunday but rebounded by going 9-of-15 from the floor against the Grizzlies. The 24-year-old leads the team in scoring at an average of 19.4 points but struggles from beyond the arc and went 1-of-3 on Tuesday to dip to 2-of-21 from 3-point range over the last six contests. Power forward Ersan Ilyasova was having his own trouble from 3-point range while going 3-of-26 over an eight-game span but, after sitting out Sunday, he knocked down 2-of-3 from beyond the arc in Tuesday's triumph.
ABOUT THE MAGIC (17-36): Orlando small forward Jonathan Simmons was questionable due to an ankle injury on Tuesday but ended up in the starting lineup and finished with a career-high 34 points on 12-of-17 shooting. "To be honest, adrenaline was just going and I myself didn't even really know what was going on and I was just trying to play hard and not have another setback (with the ankle)," Simmons told reporters. "We got it done tonight and credit to all of these other guys. I was very close (to not playing) because it was a back-to-back, but I didn't want to let these guys down." Simmons is shooting 60.7 percent from the field in the last five games, including 9-of-16 from beyond the arc.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Hawks SG Marco Belinelli sat out on Tuesday as the team explored trade options.
2. Magic PF Aaron Gordon (hip) sat out the last five games and is questionable for Thursday.
3. The Southeast Division rivals split the first two meetings of the season, with each protecting home court.