ATLANTA – Forward Al Horford paced a balanced Atlanta attack, and the Hawks put away the struggling Orlando Magic in a 98-81 win Monday in a Martin Luther King Day matinee at Philips Arena.
Horford led six Hawks in double figures with 15 points, and forward Paul Millsap added 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Point guard Jeff Teague scored 14 points, including a layup and 3-pointer in the third quarter that helped stave off an Orlando challenge.
Forward Aaron Gordon had 18 points off the bench to lead the Magic, who have faded since a strong December. Point guard Elfrid Payton added 16 points, and center Nikola Vucevic added 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic (20-20).
The Hawks (25-17) won easily despite 17 turnovers. It’s that kind of inconsistency that’s been bugging Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer, who said last week he’s been searching for a magic pill to fix his team’s up-and-down play.
A strong effort from the bench has to help. Reserve forward Mike Scott scored 12 points, and forward Thabo Sefolosha and center Tiago Splitter each added 10 points off the bench.
The Hawks controlled the first half and led 51-38 at halftime. The Hawks’ bench, sparked by eight points each from Scott and Splitter, outscored the Magic’s reserves 26-12 in the first half.
Orlando cut the deficit in half early in the third quarter with a pair of 3-pointers by Payton and one from guard Evan Fournier. But the Hawks answered quickly with 3-pointers from Teague and guard Kyle Korver.
Orlando’s surprising hot start has simmered in 2016. The Magic were 19-13 on Dec. 30, but have now lost three straight and seven of eight overall. They have been hampered by injuries, especially in the backcourt.
Just as Payton returned from a four-game absence due to an ankle bone bruise, shooting guard Victor Oladipo suffered a knee sprain and missed Monday’s game.
The Hawks head out for a four-game West Coast road trip, starting Wednesday in Portland.
NOTES: Orlando SG Victor Oladipo was inactive with a knee sprain. Oladipo suffered the injury while taking a charge in Thursday’s game against the Toronto Raptors in London. … The Hawks are tied with the Washington Wizards for fewest rebounds per game in the league, averaging 40.4. … Magic coach Scott Skiles has been battling an illness and missed Sunday’s practice. … Atlanta recalled G Lamar Patterson and C Edy Tavares from the Austin Spurs of the NBA Development League. … Magic PG Elfrid Payton returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Jan. 2. Payton, who missed four games with ankle bruise, came off the bench in the Magic’s loss at Toronto on Thursday.