Atlanta Hawks

Orlando Magic Grades: Atlanta Hawks 113, Orlando Magic 86

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:45 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

Fansided, Philip Rossman-Reich/FanSided via Orlando Magic Daily

The Orlando Magic failed to build momentum following Friday’s win, getting beat by a focused and dominant Atlanta Hawks team.

The Orlando Magic felt confidence following a breakout win over the Toronto Raptors at home. There was talk of building momentum and carrying the good play from the last week into Atlanta to finish this back to back.

Then the ball tipped at Philips Arena. And from the start, the Atlanta Hawks dominated the game.

Tim Hardaway Jr. attacked Aaron Gordon and caught him sleeping scoring with ease. Dennis Schroder attacked the paint and the basket. Dwight Howard stared down drivers and changed shots with his presence, finishing around the basket on offense.

The Orlando Magic got beat and beat badly from the start.

The final embarrassment came with a 10-0 run to end the first half that put the game fully out of reach. The Magic trailed by 26 at halftime and by as much as 27 as the Hawks won 113-86 at Philips Arena on Saturday.

There was very little positive take away for Orlando. After three games where it looked like the Magic’s defense was rounding into some form, they gave way with ease to the Hawks. Atlanta did whatever it wanted from the start. And the Magic had no answer.

Their energy was just lifeless throughout the game. The Magic did not move the ball offensively and often got stuck in the paint staring down a swarm of Hawks defenders without any outlet.

The Magic simply could not get good shots, shooting 34.6 percent and 7 for 27 from beyond the arc. It was a poor offensive game for the Magic.

Just as it was a poor defensive game. Atlanta made 52.6 percent of their shots. They shot 60-plus percent from the floor in the first quarter as they took control and dominated the entire game.

The Magic had no answers. They were late and behind on everything. And a confident Hawks team pounced from the very beginning.

Aaron Gordon

SF, Orlando Magic

Gordon was active offensively too. A good sign after his 0-for-7 night Friday. Gordon finished with 16 points on 5-for-10 shooting. His jumper was going in and he was aggressive trying to get to the basket. Much more under control.

His effort was noticeable just because of how lifeless the team was throughout the game. That is good for Gordon. But it was far from enough.

Serge Ibaka

PF, Orlando Magic

And sometimes he just lays eggs. When he does, the Magic stand no chance to compete.

That is what happened Saturday. Millsap beat Ibaka all over the floor. Ibaka forced his shots (five points 2-for-9 shooting) and could not even slide over to contest shots. He was as lethargic as anyone else. And it has happened far too often with Ibaka.

Elfrid Payton

PG, Orlando Magic

Payton finished with 12 points on 3-for-12 shooting. But more alarmingly had zero assists. He could not get the ball moving. Often he drove into the paint too deep to stare down a host of Hawks with no Magic players cutting off him or providing him an outlet. The Magic could not get moving because Payton could not get himself going.

Defensively he was even worse. Dennis Schroder got where he wanted on his way to 17 points and 10 assists. The Magic had no answers and no one willing to step up and stop him when he got downhill. It was a broken game from everyone.

Mario Hezonja

SF, Orlando Magic

Largely Hezonja did that, but the reasons why he is not player were still evident.

Hezonja struggled defensively, watching the ball a bit too much and losing his man for open 3-pointers. This has been a recurring problem throughout his season. It is tough to play someone who shirks that basic responsibility. But he did well otherwise. His effort and energy were good. He hit a jumper and pushed the ball when he could. This is not enough to earn him playing time, but he did not hurt himself much.

Atlanta Hawks

30-21, 4th East

From the very start, the Hawks attacked the basket and scored with ease. They had intensity and they just blew the doors off the Magic, shooting the ball well and defending everything. Orlando had zero breathing room. The Magic took a punch and never really got back up.

Atlanta never really let them. They moved the ball and found the open man with ease. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Paul Millsap each had 21 points and their work was done through three quarters.

More from Orlando Magic Daily

This article originally appeared on

share

Get more from Atlanta Hawks Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Atlanta Hawks

National Basketball Association

Orlando Magic