Hawks Suffer First Loss at Home to Magic, 93-76

Published Nov. 26, 2009 10:01 p.m. ET

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Associated Press
November 26, 2009; 11:09 p.m.

Dwight Howard had 22 points and 17 rebounds, Vince Carter added 21 points and the Orlando Magic beat the Atlanta Hawks 93-76 on Thursday night.

The Hawks, attempting to tie Phoenix for the NBA's best record, dropped to 11-4. They missed a chance to improve to 8-0 at home for the first time since 1993-94.

Orlando wiped away the disappointment of a one-point home loss to Miami on Wednesday night with its sixth win in seven games.

Atlanta, which has dropped two straight following a seven-game winning, blew a 14-point lead after Joe Johnson banked in a jumper to begin the third quarter.

The Magic went on a 25-10 run that ended with Carter's three-point play and a 64-63 advantage with 2:09 left in the third.

Johnson finished with 22 points for the Hawks, a half-game behind Orlando for the Eastern Conference and Southeast Division lead.

Atlanta's half-court offense fell into a deep funk after Marvin Williams hit an 18-footer to give the Hawks a 57-44 lead with 10:26 left in the third.

Over its next 34 possessions, Atlanta managed just six field goals.

Reserve guard Anthony Johnson, who averaged 1.6 points over his first 20 games this season, scored 17 points in 21 minutes. His 3-pointer with 6:58 remaining gave the Magic their first double-digit lead of the game at 79-69.

Howard's dunk with 2:25 left put Orlando ahead 87-73.

Josh Smith was the Hawks' second-leading scorer with 13 points.

NOTES: Mike Bibby started despite leaving the Hawks' last game, a loss in New Orleans on Saturday night, with a sprained left ankle. ... Atlanta wore red uniforms with "ATL" stitched on the front of the jerseys for the first time. ... The Hawks announced a crowd of 19,193 for their second sellout this season.