Magic clutch defeats Hawks to avenge loss at Phillips Arena

Who says the preseason is boring? We saw a great game between division rivals at Phillips Arena on Monday night. PlayoffsHawks was at this game, sitting close to the Magic bench, and it was competitive and exciting throughout the entire game.

Dwight Howard seemingly dominated, he had 29 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Orlando Magic, and Rashard Lewis scored 25 points 8 rebounds, including the dagger free throws to put the Magic up by 4, then a jumper for the final verdict of a 109-103 preseason victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.

The Hawks were up 27-26 after the first quarter, but the Magic opened up a 39-29 lead 4 1/2 minutes into the second quarter. Johnson took over, scoring 10 points in the last 5 1/2 minutes of the half to pull the Hawks to 54-53 at the break.

Joe Johnson, who led the Hawks with 26 points, hit a 3-pointer with 1:10 remaining to pull the Hawks to 102-100. Howard responded with a 5-foot turnaround jumper to make it 104-100 with 54 seconds remaining.

Johnson followed with another 3, leaving the Hawks a point down, but the Atlanta star missed a 12-footer with 27 seconds left for the lead. Howard got the rebound and was fouled. He made one of two free throws.

The Hawks had one more chance, but Mike Bibby missed a long jumper with 15 seconds remaining. Rashard Lewis hit two free throws to clinch it, and added two more for the final margin.

Johnson also had seven rebounds and five assists. Josh Smith added 13 points and five assists, Al Horford had 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Bibby scored 13 points and doled out five assists.

Randolph Morris! the Sekou Smith beatblog favorite played the most significant minutes of his young NBA career last night. He played 17:36 at center, more than starter ZaZa Pachulia, 14:19, and had a much better stat line: 8 pts 3 rbs 1 ast, 7 pts 2 rbs.

Courtney Lee had the most impactful 13 points and 4 rebounds of any rookie i've ever seen, he plays a role similar to our sixth man, Flip Murray, if he is the Magic's sixth man he is going to give teams fits. He played crucial minutes in the 4th quarter and got such clutch rebounds. All of his points seemingly came from driving backboard layups, he shot no free throws, 1 of 2 from 3.

Orlando improved to 5-1 in the preseason, while the Hawks dropped to 4-3.

Joe Johnson unleashed, scores 22 in balanced attack Hawks win

Joe Johnson scored 22 pts 4 rbs and 6 asts, Mike Bibby scored 14 pts 3 rbs and 5 asts, and Al Horford got his nightly double-double with 11 pts 11 rbs. Marvin Williams did not play due to a mild thumb sprain, and ZaZa Pachulia started in his place and scored 12 pts 10 rbs in 24 minutes of action. Josh Smith scored 3 pts 3 stls in 15 foul-plauged minutes, and the Hawks still won easily.

The Bench played spectacularly as Flip Murray led with way with 18 pts, 11-13 FTs, Maurice Evans 13 pts 5-6 FTs, Acie Law IV scored 9 pts on 3-3 3ptFGs

NBA.COM Associated Press recap

Suns Revenge on Hawks last preseason win, Grant Hill buzzer-beater

Grant Hill made an 18-foot jump shot with 5.6 seconds left and the Phoenix Suns beat the Atlanta Hawks 102-100 in a preseason game Wednesday night.

Flip Murray led all scorers with 23 pts (8/14 FGs 3/4 3pt FGs 4/4 FTs), Al Horford got 15 pts (4/9 FGs 7/9 FTs) 6 rbs, Acie Law started in place of Mike Bibby, whom was welcoming a new child into this world (congratulations). ZaZa Pachulia scored 7 pts 10 rbs.

Hawks burn Shaq-led Suns, looking sharp

100-96 Hawks

Marvin Williams scored 19 points (6/12 FGs 3/5 3pt FGs 4/4 FTs) 6 rebounds 4 assists 2 steals, Josh Smith had 18 (6/10 FGs 0/2 3pt FGs 6/11 FTs) 3 rebounds 1 assist and 1 block and the Atlanta Hawks spoiled Terry Porter's debut as Phoenix coach, rallying to beat the Suns 100-96 Wednesday night.

It was the second victory in two exhibition games for the Hawks, who also defeated Orlando on Monday.

It was a great and balanced effort, despite a dismal 1-9 shooting display by Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson was good, 14 points (5/10 FGs 2/3 3pt FGS 2/2 FTs) Al Horford was beast as usual, Coach Woodson had to tame him a lil' more than the other starters, 22 minutes, but he registered 10 points (5/6 FGs) 6 rebounds.

Shaquille O'Neal showed his championship dominance in minimal minutes, people hate on O'Neal for a plethora of reasons from his outgoing, goofy personality, to his perceived ego, or rapper swagger which he still shows from time to time (loved the Kobe freestyle, just jokes) but these Suns with Terry Porter are going to be a real contender even against or ESPECIALLY against the Lakers in the playoffs, but they will have to improve in 3 point shooting or they will become a lottery team, fans would leave and Steve Nash will become a free agent only to sign with the Spurs to try to win a championship...if these Suns don't start hitting three pointers, that's all i'm saying.














Good Game, i will reiterate my prediction, if the Atlanta Hawks go undefeated in this pre-season, i guarentee they will win 47-50 games this season, Bet.

Acie Law IV led the Hawks with 20 points in a 118-108 win over Magic in first preseason game

118-108 Hawks


i hope conservative NBA fans, i.e. Hawks haterz arent going to try to deny and ignore the skill and great team that is the 08-09 Atlanta Hawks all season Of course its only the first game but the Hawks showed that they are much improved and SOOO many things can be taken just from this game:

1. AL HOrdford just might be the #2 Beast in the East even "undersized" at the center position, he way the more aggresive owner of the paint in this game, Dwight is the best center in the league, so he did he thing, but AL Horford is up next, as soon as this season

Al Horford 13 pts (6/11 fgs 1/1 fts) 9 rbs 4 blks in 22 minutes
Dwight Howard 17 pts (6/9 fgs 5/6 fts) 5 rbs 8 blks in 25 minutes

2. Acie Law is going to be alright. He led the Hawks in scoring in this game showing poise strength and good decision making skills. He was a great floor leader in the 2nd half, dishing ot 4 assists and scoring 13 points, even hitting a crazy 60-foot buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter, he played to the end and showed he can will his team to a win

Acie Law 20 pts (8/11 fgs 2/2 fts) 5 rbs 4 asts 2 stls
Jameer Nelson 7 pts (3/6 fgs 1/2 fts) 2 rbs 5 asts

3. Josh Smith needs to do better. I am a firm believer that Josh Smith is the best player on the Hawks team and the defensive anchor that will make the Hawks a eastern conference contender in the near future, but tonight he got seriously otplayed by rashard lewis, he is no slouch, he could also be an all-star, lewis played like it tonight

Josh Smith 9 pts (4/14 fgs 1/2 fts) 7 rbs 1 blk in 31 minutes
rashard lewis 22 pts (8/14 fgs 4/5 fts 2/3 3pts) 6 rbs 1 blk in 30 minutes

4. Maurice Evans is going to be all right. He was the catylist in the 45 pt 3rd quarter driving to the basket and hitting threes, his veteran skill and experience is joe biden to our obama hawks, he could average his career high here as the 6th man

maurice evans 17 pts (6/9 fgs 1/2 fts 4/4 3pts) 3 asts 2 stls in 23 minutes
micheal peatris 9 pts (4/9 fgs 1/1 fts) 2 rbs 2 stls in 24 minutes


Overall, the hawks went 3-1 against the magic last season, so we have always played them well, but these Hawks are much improved from last season, every played indvidually and collectively, even Woodson's coaching was very good, different and diverse plays, good substitution pattern, and everybody played. i keep trying to tell people, haters of mike woodson, if Doc Rivers then why not Mike Woodson?



P.S.

Is StarVin MarVin AIRBORNE in this picture? *sigh*