Game 1: Magic 114, Hawks 71... Magic lead series 1-0
The Orlando Magic unleashed total destruction on Atlanta, beginning early in the second quarter with the score tied at 27. The Magic went on a 17-0 run on their way to leading by as many as 46 points late in the game as all 12 Magic players scored and no Magic player played more than 29 minutes. Dwight Howard had his first double/double of the playoffs with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and added 5 blocks.
The first quarter gave absolutely no indication that the game would be such a slaughter, as the Hawks actually led by as many as 3 points. The Magic's largest first quarter lead was 25-21, and the quarter ended with the Magic leading 25-23. The last tie of the game came at 27 all early in the second before the Hawks went over 6 minutes without scoring. The Magic led comfortably at the half 53-33. The Hawks briefly pulled to 18 points early in the third, but the Magic outscored the Hawks 32-11 in the quarter as the Hawks went the last 5:31 of the quarter without scoring as the Magic led by an incredible 85-44 after three. The Magic maintained their huge lead in the final quarter, with their largest lead of 114-68 before a meaningless Hawks' three pointer to close the scoring.
Magic leading scorers
Dwight Howard: 21 points (8 of 10 FGs, 5 of 10 FTs), 12 rebounds, 5 blocks
Vince Carter: 20 points (7 of 16 FGs, 5 of 5 FTs), 6 rebounds
Jameer Nelson: 19 points (8 of 12 FGs, 3 of 5 3 PT FGs), 5 assists
J.J. Redick (bench): 10 points (4 of 9 FGs, 2 of 5 3 PT FGs)
Overall Game Statistics
FG%: ORL 52.4% (44 of 84) ATL 34.6% (28 of 81)
3 PT FG%: ORL 39.1% (9 of 23) ATL 15.4% (2 of 13)
FT%: ATL 72.2% (13 of 18) ORL 70.8% (17 of 24)
REB: ORL 53 (14 offensive) ATL 35 (10 offensive)
AST/TO: ORL 23/13 ATL 12/16
BENCH: ORL 41 ATL 33
Other game notes and stats:
-Atlanta had just three players in double figures, with Josh Smith leading with 14 points (just 4 points after the first quarter), and reserve Zaza Pachulia with 12 points; Joe Johnson scored just 10 points
-Sixth Man of the Year winner Jamal Crawford of the Hawks shot just 1 for 11 for 5 points
-The Magic outscored the Hawks 70-52 on two pointers, 27-6 on three pointers, and 17-13 on FTs
-Magic starters Rashard Lewis scored 9 points with 7 rebounds, and Matt Barnes scored 4 points with 7 rebounds
-The Magic starting backcourt outscored the Hawks' starting backcourt 39-12
-The Magic outscored the Hawks 60-21 in the second and third quarters, and shot 57% during this stretch while the Hawks shot 24% during that same stretch
-Marcin Gortat scored 9 points with 6 rebounds off the Magic bench, and reserve Mickael Pietrus scored 8 points on 2 of 3 three point shooting
Here is the complete recap and box score from nba.com
posted by Mike from Illinois @ 11:29 PM
3 Comments:
At 5:10 AM,
Mike from Illinois said…
Wow, what a start for the Magic; they just blew the Hawks out of the water!
Atlanta is not nearly as bad as they showed in Game 1, and can't help but be more competitive the rest of the series.
In 1995, the Magic beat the Celtics in Game 1 of the first round by 47 points... in Game 2, the Celtics beat the Magic (the Magic did win the series, though).
As long as the Magic stay focused, there's no way a letdown should occur against Atlanta in Game 2, as the Magic have shown they are undoubtedly the superior team.
At 1:46 PM,
Matt said…
If Hawks don't find a way of dealing with Dwight, the history shows that this series would be over a lot sooner than anybody may have thought. Magic does present two strengths for the opponents: the most dominant center and 3-point shooting. CHA dealt with these two strengths just about as good as anybody could, and was swept. ATL is not equipped to deal with neither, well. I say they would be lucky to win a game. Their jump-shooters, particularly Johnson and Crawford, have to shoot the lights out for them to have any chance of stealing a game.
At 6:02 PM,
Big Figure said…
I have to say great win,but im not surprised by the outcome in the least bit. The magic have beaten the hawks by forty before,it was a regular season game but who cares. In those games atlanta has never really had an answer for dwight bottom line. I said yesterday they would have to do something drastic to not get swept and their coach marched them out there and pretty much played us the same way they always have. He's seen us before he knows whats not gonna work,so to wait until game two to try and make some adjustments is waiting to long in my opinion,not that any of them are going to work.
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