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Orlando showcases new talent, still loses to Atlanta

Dec 21, 2010 - 3:37 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Al Horford posted 24 points and 11 rebounds, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the new-look Orlando Magic, 91-81, at Philips Arena.

Joe Johnson added 17 points for the Hawks, who have won three of the last four against their division rival after losing the previous six. Mike Bibby contributed 15 points, while Josh Smith and Marvin Williams each had 12 in the victory.

Dwight Howard recorded 19 points and 20 rebounds for the Magic, who were playing their first game with all their new trade acquisitions. On Saturday, Orlando pulled off two deals that netted them Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Earl Clark.

The Magic, who have lost seven of eight, were not helped immediately by the moves. Arenas had 10 points, while Richardson and Turkoglu had nine and eight, respectively.

Orlando, normally a high-percentage shooting team, finished 35.2 percent from the field and 4-of-17 from three-point range.

"They're out there trying hard. They just...none of them played well," Orlando head coach Stan Van Gundy said of his new players. "Nobody could shoot the ball. I think they've got a lot of emotion and stuff going on -- it was just a tough night."

The game was tied, 55-55, with 4 1/2 minutes left in the third before Atlanta took control.

Bibby ignited a 10-3 quarter-ending run with seven points, including a three- pointer, and a Johnson free throw had the Hawks ahead, 65-58, heading to the fourth.

Atlanta scored seven of the fourth quarter's first nine points, with Johnson's three providing a 71-60 cushion with less than 10 minutes left. Orlando failed to make a field goal for nearly the first eight minutes of the period, as the Hawks led by as many as 18 in the final stanza.

A late run by Orlando cut into the final margin.

"With the trade, (it's a whole different situation), but they still the same kind of players that want to shoot the ball from the outside," Horford said of the Magic. "It's just a different personnel, but I feel like it's a very similar team."

The Hawks controlled the game from the beginning, leading 20-14 after one quarter and 43-38 at halftime.

The Magic put together a 14-3 burst in the third to tie the game on a Howard slam before Atlanta began to pull away.

Game Notes

In their two trades, the Magic lost Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus, a first-round pick and cash considerations...The Hawks outrebounded Orlando, 51-38...Horford now has 2,500 career rebounds.