National Basketball Association
Orlando 131, Atlanta 120
When: 7:30 PM ET, Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Where: Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
Officials: #41 Ken Mauer, #58 Josh Tiven, #64 Justin VanDuyne
Attendance: 13585

ATLANTA -- The Orlando Magic didn't look a thing like the team that was next to last in the NBA with an average 94.8 points per game coming into their Tuesday night contest against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Magic hit 15 3-pointers while shooting 58.6 percent overall, and Orlando got 62 points from reserves in snapping a three-game losing streak with a 131-120 victory over the Hawks.

Serge Ibaka scored 29 points, and Elfrid Payton led the bench effort for the Magic (11-15) with career bests of 26 points and 14 assists.

"We shot the ball really well," coach Frank Vogel said. "We're continuing to try to improve our passing and make the extra pass. That improves your shooting percentage."

The Magic, spreading the floor with center Nikola Vucevic out, had 36 assists in scoring more than 100 points for only the eighth time this season.

Evan Fournier scored 23 points, while Jodie Meeks and Jeff Green had 20 and 16 points off the bench, respectively.

"We really needed this win," said Meeks, who was 4 for 6 from the 3-point arc and 7 for 10 overall. "The bench came through and I was happy to knock down some shots."

Payton made all three of his 3-point attempts and was 9 for 12 overall after a couple rough shooting nights.

"He cares a lot," Vogel said. "He gets a lot of criticism, but he's a gamer and I'm happy to see him come back and perform the way he did."

Dwight Howard had 20 points and 16 rebounds for the Hawks (12-13), who took a step back again after snapping a seven-game losing streak with consecutive victories.

"Offensively we were OK, but that was way too many points to give up," said Kyle Korver, the only productive bench player for the Hawks with 12 points.

Dennis Schroder had 19 points and 13 assists, but the Hawks couldn't slow down the Magic.

"We followed the game plan and we adjusted during the game. We did everything we could, I think," Schroder said. "They hit a lot of shots. We just have to shake their hands and go to the next game."

The Hawks' used a 15-2 run early in the third quarter to take a lead, but the Magic led 99-96 going into the final quarter thanks to a 3-point basket by Meeks just before the buzzer.

Then the Magic quickly put the game away, outscoring the Hawks 17-7 to start the fourth as they continued to bomb away from 3-point range.

It was the third straight victory for the Magic over the Hawks after losing 17 of the previous 20 meetings.

The Magic, who didn't commit a turnover until the final minute of the second quarter, led 72-62 at intermission on 59.2 percent shooting.

The point total was the best by seven points in a half for Orlando this season and the most scored against the Hawks by six points in a first half.

Fournier had 17 points and Ibaka scored 16 in the first half for the Magic, who had 21 assists on their 29 baskets.

Howard, who missed only one first-half shot, had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds by halftime as the Hawks scored 20 second-chance points.

NOTES: C Nikola Vucevic, who averages 11 rebounds to lead the Magic, missed his second straight game because of a sore lower back after taking a hard fall at Charlotte last Friday. ... C Bismack Biyombo started for the Magic despite a strained left shoulder. ... G Kent Bazemore returned for the Hawks after sitting out two games with a sore right knee, but came off the bench as G Tim Hardaway Jr. remained in the starting lineup. ... F Mike Scott, who has appeared in only three games for the Hawks because of knee issues, will play for Long Island on Wednesday in his second NBA Development League assignment. ... The Hawks recalled F DeAndre Bembry after the first-round draft pick averaged 27 points in two D-League games with Utah. ... The Magic complete the back-to-back on Wednesday in Orlando against the Los Angeles Clippers. Orlando has lost five straight at home.
Top Game Performances
 
Orlando   Atlanta
Serge Ibaka 29 Scoring Dwight Howard 20
Elfrid Payton 14 Assists Dennis Schroder 13
Bismack Biyombo 9 Rebounds Dwight Howard 16
Elfrid Payton 5 Free Throws Made Malcolm Delaney 4
Evan Fournier 2 Steals Paul Millsap 2
Bismack Biyombo 3 Blocks Dwight Howard 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Orlando 131 58.6 15-34 14-20 36 28 5 8 9
Atlanta 120 50.6 11-28 19-21 29 45 4 6 15
Upcoming Games
  • Atlanta will play their next game on the road against Toronto. The Hawks have a W/L % of .692 after a win and .250 after a loss.
  • Orlando will play their next game at home against LA Clippers. The Magic have a W/L % of .455 after a win and .400 after a loss.