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The Atlanta Hawks travel to Orlando Friday for their first meeting with the Magic since ousting them in the first-round of last season's playoffs.
It took overtime for the Atlanta Hawks to defeat the Orlando Magic Friday night, but the Hawks nearly let the game slip away in regulation. Heading into the fourth quarter the Hawks were leading by five and within the first three minutes extended their lead to nine points and were able to hold onto a eight point lead with 2:26 left in the fourth quarter.
The Magic were able to comeback in that time by going on an 8-0 to send the game into overtime. Down two points Magin guard Jameer Nelson drove to the basket to tie the game and missed, but it was Dwight Howard who was able to grab the miss and make the put back with one second left to force overtime.
In the extra frame the the Hawks went on an 9-2 run after the Magic hit a three-pointer to go ahead for good. The Magic nearly came back when Ryan Anderson cut the Hawks lead to one when he made a three-point shot. The game then came down to free throws as the Magic's Jason Richardson and Hawks Zaza Pachulia each went one for two. After that sequence the Hawks had a two point lead with 10 seconds left. The Magic then had one last chance to tie or win the game but the Hawks defense stopped the two three-point attempts to win the game, 89-87.
The Hawks were led in scoring by Josh Smith who scored 23 points and rebounded from his poor three of 10 first half shooting to shoot six of 12 in the second half and overtime.
For more updates throughout the game, check out the Hawks at Peachtree Hoops, and the Magic at Orlando Pinstriped Post.
At the half the Atlanta Hawks are leading the Orlando Magic by two, 41-39. The Hawks are leading the Magic in the Southeast division by one game and are looking to gain ground on the division leading Miami Heat.
Both the Hawks and Magic playing nearly identical to each other Friday night. They are both three of six from the free throw line, they each have made four three pointers and the Hawks are shooting 43 percent from the field and 44 percent for the Magic.
The Hawks have spread the scoring around with Josh Smith leading the way with eight points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots, but if Smith had been able to shoot better than three of 10 from the field the Hawks might have a larger halftime lead. The Magic are being lead by Dwight Howard who is shooting four of nine from the field with nine points and eight rebounds.
For more updates throughout the game, check out the Hawks at Peachtree Hoops, and the Magic at Orlando Pinstriped Post.
After the first quarter of play in Orlando's Amway Center, the Atlanta Hawks lead the Magic by a score of 20-17. After losing three straight games, the Hawks won on Wednesday at home against the Indiana Pacers and are looking to build off that win to work their way up from fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The Magic, are in sixth place in the conference and one spot behind the Hawks in the Southeast Division. They have won four of their last five games and are coming off a 102-89 win at home against the Miami Heat.
Through the first quarter, the Hawks were led by Josh Smith, who scored seven and was shut out from the All-Star reserve roster for the Eastern Conference. Joe Johnson and Zaza Pachulia each scored four points. The Magic was led by shooting guard Jason Richardson, who scored eight, and Dwight Howard, who scored three. Glen Davis also came off the bench to add five.
For more updates throughout the game, check out the Hawks at Peachtree Hoops, and the Magic at Orlando Pinstriped Post.
Josh Howard's not trying to say the NBA All-Star selection process is political, but uh, actually that's exactly what he's saying:
#Hawks F Josh Smith on All-Star snub: "I guess I don't know the right people or kiss enough [butt]."
— Michael Cunningham (@ajchawks) February 10, 2012
As we've noted earlier, Smith certainly put up All-Star like numbers (15.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals and two blocks per game for 17-9 Atlanta, a club relevant in the playoff race this season). Peachtree Hoops blogger Kris Willis speculates Smith's problems on the All-Star campaign trail start with NBA coaches - not player or fans:
Smith is likely to be a player branded for the things he doesn't do right rather than the things he does. The parts of his game that are right are enough to get him into this discussion, to place him fourth among Eastern power forwards this season, but coaches will likely always see the bad in Smith's game and choose to punish him or at best not reward him. It's not enough that Smith is at the level he is -- to get their vote, he must realize all he possibly could be.
For more on the NBA All-Star game, check out SB Nation's NBA page. For Hawks news and updates, visit Peachtree Hoops.
The Atlanta Hawks snapped a three-game home losing streak with a 97-87 win over the Indiana Pacers Wednesday night. Now the Hawks head back out on the road and will play six of their next seven away from Philips Arena beginning with a Friday night matchup against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic.
The last time they Hawks saw the Magic they were eliminating them from the first-round of the playoffs and setting into motion an uneasy situation surrounding Howard and his impending free agency. As trade rumors have swirled around Howard, the Magic (16-10) have been up and down virtually the entire season.
The timing could be bad for the Hawks as they go into this game without Jason Collins who played a big part in defending Howard in Atlanta's playoff win. The Hawks are also without Al Horford who was previously lost for the rest of the regular season and signed Erick Dampier to a 10-day contract on Thursday to help provide some depth to their frontcourt.
Game date/time: Friday, February 10, 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
TV: SportSouth
Radio: 680 The Fan, 93.7 FM
Online Streaming: NBA League Pass Broadband
For more on this game Hawks fans should visit Peachtree Hoops and Magic fans should check out Orlando Pinstriped Post. For more news and analysis from around the NBA, head on over to SB Nation's NBA Basketball page.
The signing of Erick Dampier, a 36-year old center last season on the Miami Heat's inactive list during the 2011 playoffs, is hardly the type of move likely to excite the Hawks fan base.
Never the most skilled player, Dampier made nearly $100 million in his NBA career because of his size and athleticism as an interior defender. But after sitting out the first two months of the season, it appears size is all he has left:
Erick Dampier looks to be pushing 300 pds. Larry Drew: "He's not in best of shape. Still, his size is presence in middle."
— Michael Cunningham (@ajchawks) February 9, 2012
As Drew alluded to, the only reason Dampier is on the roster is to take up space in a match-up with Dwight Howard, and hey, six hard fouls from a 6'11 300 pounder will probably hurt.
With a matchup with Dwight Howard looming, the Atlanta Hawks finally added some length to its front court by signing Erick Dampier to a 10-day contract.
The #Hawks have signed C Erick Dampier to a 10-day contract.#NBA
— AT - HawksPRGuy (@HawksPRGuy) February 9, 2012
Atlanta had been searching for some depth after injuries to Al Horford and Jason Collins left them with only one true center on their roster in Zaza Pachulia. 6-foot-8 rookie Ivan Johnson had been getting most of the minutes at the backup center position.
Atlanta travels to Orlando on Friday for the first meeting between the two teams since Atlanta eliminated the Magic in the first round of the playoffs last season. Dampier likely won't have to wait long to make his debut as he is sure to get his turn at trying to slow down Orlando center Dwight Howard.
For more on Erick Dampier and the Atlanta Hawks head on over to Peachtree Hoops. For more news and analysis from around the NBA check out SB Nation's NBA Basketball page.
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Photographs by coka_koehler used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.
NBA Standings 2012, Southeast Division: Hawks, Heat Prepare To Square Off For Division Supremacy
As the Atlanta Hawks finished off the Orlando Magic in overtime on Friday night, they have put themselves in a position where they are within reach of being atop the division or being lumped into the middle of the pack.
The Hawks are two games behind the Southeast division leaders, the Miami Heat, as the midway point of the season approaches. The Hawks are also two games ahead of the Magic, and as the Hawks begin preparing for their showdown with the Heat on Sunday the opportunity lies in front of them to make the division a two-team race.
The Hawks have added some depth with former Heat center Erick Dampier, as he was signed to a 10-day contract on Thursday. Maybe he can share a few secrets when he gets suited up, as the Hawks and Heat square off Sunday at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Southeast Standings
(updated 2.11.2012 at 1:05 PM EST)
For more on the Atlanta Hawks head on over to Peachtree Hoops. For more on the Miami Heat check out Peninsula Is Mightier. For more news and analysis from around the NBA check out SB Nation's NBA Basketball page.
Feb 11 1:14p by Eddie Maisonet