Dwight Howard is dominating the glass and the scoring. The Atlanta Hawks are having trouble hitting shots. Sprinkle in a little bit of help from some inconsistent officiating and the Orlando Magic are on the cusp of blowing the Hawks out.
Howard has 29 points and 17 boards as the Magic used a 10-1 run to end the corner to open up a 65-54 lead through three quarters at the Amway Center on Tuesday.
Josh Smith and Jamal Crawford netted 15 each for Atlanta, which is getting destroyed 44-26 on the boards.
Unlike in Game 1 when the Atlanta shot 51-percent from the field, the Hawks are struggling a bit with their shot in this one. Atlanta has connected on just 35-percent (21-for-60) in this one and that plus the rebound disparity has been the difference in the ballgame.
Orlando's not exactly shooting lights out either. They are connecting at a 34-percent clip (20-for-59) and have just made two shots from beyond the 3-point line.
But the Magic have gone to the line 16 more times than Atlanta, which has helped to neutralize Orlando's sub-part night from the field.
Jameer Nelson has 10 points for the Magic, who have just seven assists on 20 field goals in this one.