Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks: Postgame Analysis and Wrap-Up

The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night, 108-76.

Story of the Game: Atlanta's Dominance

The Magic were beaten in almost every aspect of the game by the visiting Hawks.  They were out-rebounded 54 to 41, out-shot 44.6 percent to 41.5 percent from the field and were crushed in terms of ball-handling (Atlanta had 32 assists and only nine turnovers, while the Magic had 18 assists and 15 turnovers).  

The only statistic the Magic outdid the Hawks in on the final box score was steals (a seven-to-six advantage in favor of Orlando).

Turning Point: The 1st Quarter

The Atlanta Hawks didn't let an early technical foul on guard Devin Harris or a 1-of-10 shooting start derail the team.

After Orlando rolled out to a 7-2 lead during Atlanta's abysmal start, the Hawks took over the game and crushed the Magic after a J.J. Redick three-point shot tied the game at 18-18 with 2:25 left in the quarter.

 Following the bucket by Redick, the Hawks outscored the Magic 39 to 18 to end the half.

Who Stood Out: Al Horford and Josh Smith

With Al Horford terrorizing the Magic on the glass and his inside scoring, Josh Smith knocking down seemingly every shot he took (and playing superb two-way basketball) and both big men picking up multiple assists, the Hawks frontcourt gave Orlando nightmares throughout the entire game.

What to Take From the Game: Thank God It's the All-Star Break

There's nothing really to take from such a terrible performance by the entire team.  Fans can only hope that the All-Star break gives the team some time to regroup and possibly make some moves to improve the team.

Most Valuable Player(s): Al Horford and Josh Smith

Both players dominated in such a fashion that it's impossible to choose between either one for MVP.  Horford finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, two steals and one turnover, while Smith had 30 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks.

Least Valuable Player(s): The Entire Magic Team

Lackluster defense, miserable shooting and sloppy ball-handling were probably the bright spots of the entire team's performance.  Allowing a visiting team to out-rebound you by 13 (providing the Hawks with 10 extra shots) never bodes well for a team.  

Nobody played well, and this is definitely a game for the entire team to forget.

Next Game for Orlando: Home Against the Charlotte Bobcats (12-40), on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 7:00 p.m. ET