Final
Magic and Hawks renew rivalry in Atlanta
Dec 20, 2010 - 3:40 PM (Sports Network) - Southeast Division rivals clash tonight as the new-look Orlando Magic invade Philips Arena to take on the Atlanta Hawks.Magic general manger Otis Smith drastically revamped his club on Saturday by acquiring former All-Star Gilbert Arenas, the sharp-shooting Hedo Turkoglu and the athletic Jason Richardson in separate trades involving three teams, eight players, a first- round draft pick and cash.
First, Orlando dealt former All-Star forward Rashard Lewis to Washington in exchange for Arenas, a three-time All Star himself whose eight years with the Wizards were marked by controversy. The Magic then reacquired Turkoglu along with Richardson and the little-used Earl Clark from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for eight-time All-Star Vince Carter, highly-regarded backup center Marcin Gortat, swingman Mickael Pietrus, a first- round draft pick and cash considerations.
"We needed scoring and we needed a little bit more punch," Smith said after the trades. "Looking at our team we were missing a little bit of something. We lost size but we got scorers and that was important for us."
With their new teammates in transit, the Magic lost for the sixth time in seven games Saturday when Lou Williams scored 24 points off the bench and the Philadelphia 76ers opened an eight-game road-trip with a 97-89 victory over Orlando at Amway Center.
Orlando dressed only eight players against the Sixers, getting game-highs of 26 points and 20 rebounds from Dwight Howard and 18 points from Brandon Bass.
"Make every excuse in the world," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "That's five straight games where we have done nothing to defend in the second half. So whatever the excuses are. I'm running out of them. I don't believe in any of them. Go out and guard somebody."
The Hawks, meanwhile, lost for the third time in four games on Sunday in New Jersey when Devin Harris had a solid all-around game with 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds to lead the Nets past Atlanta, 89-82.
Mike Bibby ended with 19 points, and Josh Smith and Al Horford each logged 15 points and 10 boards in defeat. Joe Johnson, in just his second game back after arthroscopic elbow surgery, shot just 4-for-16 and had 14 points.
"You've got to give them credit," Horford said. "They really came out and just hung in there the whole time and really made big shots down the stretch."
Orlando has won seven of its last nine matchups with the Hawks but has dropped two of the past three, including an 80-74 win in central Florida earlier this month.
- ORLANDO: 81
ATLANTA: 91
Final
Dec 20 9:43 PM - ORLANDO: 58
ATLANTA: 65
End of 3rd
Dec 20 8:59 PM - ORLANDO: 38
ATLANTA: 43
Halftime
Dec 20 8:17 PM - ORLANDO: 14
ATLANTA: 20
End of 1st
Dec 20 7:38 PM
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