Hawks roll to easy win over Magic
ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Hawks, who overcame a 20-point deficit in the final eight minutes at Houston in their previous game, didn't have to worry about staging a comeback this time.
The Hawks led by 26 points at halftime and coasted to their 15th victory in the past 20 games, defeating the Orlando Magic 113-86 on Saturday night.
Tim Hardaway Jr., who sparked the Atlanta comeback against Houston with 23 of his career-best 33 points in the fourth quarter, scored 21 against the Magic.
Paul Millsap also had 21 points before taking a seat for the fourth quarter with most of the other starters for the Hawks.
Dennis Schroder had 17 points to go with 10 assists for the Hawks, while Dwight Howard contributed 13 rebounds and 11 points. Malcolm Delaney had 12 points off the bench.
Orlando has lost 15 of its past 20 games and hasn't won consecutive games since December.
Aaron Gordon scored 16 points for the Magic, who couldn't follow up a home victory over Toronto on Friday. Orlando made just 7 of 27 3-point attempts and shot 35.1 percent overall, compared to 52.6 percent for Atlanta.
The Hawks, quickly up 13-4, led by 35-24 after the first quarter and outscored Orlando 30-15 in the second to go up 65-39 at halftime.
Atlanta, which made 13 of its, first 16 shots, hit 65.9 percent in the first half, making 7 of 14 3-point attempts, compared to 31.7 percent for the Magic.
The Hawks already had four players in double figures at the break, with Millsap scoring 14 points, Schroder 13, Hardaway 12 and Howard 10. Schroder also had eight first-half assists and Howard nine rebounds.
The Magic scored the first nine points of the third quarter, but the Hawks refused after a quick timeout and led 91-65 going into the final quarter.
The Magic haven't won consecutive games since defeating the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec.23 and Memphis on Dec. 26, both in Orlando.
NOTES: Hawks G/F Thabo Sefolosha missed his fourth straight game because of a left groin strain. ... With Sefolosha out and F Mike Dunleavy bothered by a sore right knee, the Hawks recalled rookie F Taurean Prince from the NBA Development League after he scored 16 points in 22 minutes for Long Island on Friday against Greensboro. ... The Magic and Hawks split their two earlier games, each winning on the road. The teams play at Orlando on Feb. 25 to end the season series. ... The Hawks continue a three-game homestand against Utah on Monday and Denver on Wednesday before a three-game trip to the West Coast ahead of the All-Star Game. ... The Magic play next at Houston on Tuesday.