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Hawks and Magic clash at Amway Center

Nov 8, 2010 - 3:56 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of Southeast Division heavyweights clash in the new Amway Center Monday when the Orlando Magic play host to the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks dropped their first game of the season last night when Steve Nash's last-second free throws iced the game for the Phoenix Suns as they defeated the Eastern Conference's last unbeaten team, 118-114, at the Philips Center.

Atlanta made it a game in the third quarter when Joe Johnson heated up on his way to a game-high 34 points on 15-of-27 shooting from the floor. Al Horford had a season-high 30 points, including 10 in the final quarter.

"It was a tough game," Horford said. "We were trading baskets. We gave up some key offensive rebounds and we had our chances. We just can't come out like that in the first half and expect to win like that. The way we were able to fight back and get back into it was good. We got back in it and made a game out of it."

The loss broke the Hawks 14-game regular season winning streak in Dixie dating back to last season.

Atlanta forward Marvin Williams, who missed last night's contest with a bone bruise on is right knee, is listed as day-to-day and questionable for tonight's game.

The Magic, who are opening a three-game homestand tonight, won their third straight game on Saturday in Charlotte when Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard each scored 22 points, as Orlando topped the Bobcats, 91-88.

Quentin Richardson ended with 14 points and Vince Carter added 10 points for the Magic, who improved to 4-1 on the young season. Carter, however, had to exit late after suffering a strained right hip flexor when he slipped on a wet spot on the floor.

"I've been struggling with my shot lately, but I have to keep shooting and that's what I did tonight," Lewis said. "I finally knocked a couple down and I got my confidence back."

Carter's status for tonight's contest remains uncertain. Meanwhile, point guard Jameer Nelson, who sat out Saturday' win with a left ankle injury suffered the previous night in a 105-90 win over New Jersey, is questionable.

Orlando, which is a perfect 3-0 in its new arena, will also face Utah and Toronto on its current residency.

The Magic have won seven of their past nine regular season meetings with the Hawks but Atlanta snapped a six-game skid in the series with a win in Dixie back in March.

Orlando rebounded from that setback, however, to sweep Atlanta out of the playoffs in last year's Eastern Conference semifinals, winning the four games by an average of over 25 points. Johnson was especially miserable in that set, shooting 29.8 percent and a dismal 3-for-17 from beyond the arc.