The Atlanta Hawks will be going back to Atlanta for another game. If they play anything like they are tonight on Thursday, they could be returning to the Amway Center one more time as well.
Jason Richardson has 17 points and J.J. Redick added 11 to post the Orlando Magic to a commanding 79-53 lead over the Hawks through three quarters in Game 5 in Orlando on Tuesday.
Jameer Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu and Ryan Anderson have nine each for the Magic, who have connected on 9-of-21 from behind the 3-point arc.
This one is ugly. This one is over.
The Hawks seem to have lost the ability to stick to their man on defense. And when they have the basketball, they resemble more of that lazy jump shooting Hawks team than the team that won three of the first four games by pounding the paint.
Yes, Orlando has made some adjustments, closing the passing lane into the paint. But the Hawks simply can't hold their hands up and settle for the lazy jumper, which is not falling tonight.
Josh Smith has 21 points and 11 boards to lead Atlanta. Al Horford posted nine points.
But Joe Johnson (five points, 2-for-11 from the field) and Jamal Crawford (five points, 1-for-6 from the field) are having all sorts of difficulties tonight. Joe can't seem to solve an Orlando double-team. He's dishing the ball to Smith, who is taking a lot of shots that make Hawks fans groan.
Amazingly, Orlando is doing this without much from Dwight Howard, who has eight points and eight boards through three quarters.