The new-look Orlando Magic just couldn't get anything going against the Atlanta Hawks. That's what usually happens to teams though when they get thrown onto the court without even having a chance to practice together.
Al Horford had 24 points and grabbed 11 boards and Joe Johnson added 17 points and dished six assists to lead the Hawks to a 91-81 win over the Magic on Monday night at Philips Arena.
Dwight Howard had 19 points and 20 rebounds for Orlando, which had mixed results in its first game with its new roster. Not very pleased with his basketball team after a dismal stretch of 1-6 basketball, Magic GM Otis Smith blew up his current roster and started anew, making a pair of trades with the Washington Wizards and Phoenix Suns that shipped away Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Mickael Pietrus and Marcin Gortat in return for Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Earl Clark on Saturday.
The Magic lost another game before the new-look roster could come together and didn't even get a chance to practice on Monday as the new players were busy taking physicals. Once they took to the court, they predictably struggled. The Hawks held the Magic to a season-low 14 points in the first quarter as the new guys just posted five points.
Orlando also had a stretch of almost seven minutes without a field goal in the fourth quarter that turned out to be their downfall. Atlanta lead by as many as 17 during that stretch en route to putting the game away.
Arenas lead the new guys with 10 points on a miserable 2-for-9 performance from the field. Richardson had nine and Turkoglu had eight. Clark did not play.
Marvin Williams had 12 points off of the bench for Atlanta, which elected to start center Jason Collins against Howard. Horford shifted to power forward and Josh Smith started at the small forward position.
Mike Bibby chipped in 15 points, while Smith added 12 for the Hawks (18-12), who moved one-half game ahead of the Magic (16-11) in the Southeast Division.