ORLANDO, Fla. – Josh Smith had 23 points and 19 rebounds, and the Atlanta Hawks hit enough free throws late in overtime to slip past the Orlando Magic 89-87 Friday night.
Joe Johnson scored four of his 14 points in the extra period and added five assists for the Hawks, who won their fourth straight regular-season meeting with the Magic dating to last season. Atlanta won its second straight overall since snapping a three-game losing streak.
Ryan Anderson led the Magic with 21 points, and Dwight Howard had 18 points and 18 rebounds in Orlando's first meeting with the Hawks since being eliminated by them in last season's playoffs.
The Magic dropped their second in three games and lost for the first time this season to a Southeast Division opponent.
Atlanta — much the way it did in the playoffs — enjoyed matchup advantages against Orlando at every position except center, and the Hawks continually pestered the Magic both inside and on the perimeter. With both Al Horford and Jason Collins out because of injuries, the Hawks' remaining big men managed to stay out of foul trouble throughout.
The teams traded baskets to open the extra frame before two straight baskets by Johnson put the Hawks up 87-83.
Anderson hit a 3-pointer from the wing to cut it to one and Smith threw it away on Atlanta's next touch, but Hedo Turkoglu missed a jumper from the corner and forced the Magic to start fouling with less than 24 seconds left.
Marvin Williams hit 1 of 2 from the line, giving the ball back to Magic with 15.8 to play. Jason Richardson drove to the basket and was fouled but missed the second free throw. Zaza Pachulia won a scrum for the rebound and put the Hawks up 89-87 after his trip to the charity stripe.
The Magic got two looks from 3-point range on their final possession, but Smith finally got a rebound as the horn expired.
Atlanta carried a seven-point advantage into the fourth quarter and it grew as high as nine before a pair of free throws by Anderson cut it to 73-70 with less than 5 minutes left in regulation.
That momentum was almost immediately halted, though, after three consecutive Magic possessions ended in turnovers. The Hawks capitalized on each and pushed their lead to 78-70.
The Magic scored six straight points, including back-to-back layups by Jameer Nelson, to cut it to 78-76. Following a missed jumper by Smith on the other end, Orlando called a timeout with 12.2 seconds to play.
Nelson drove to the basket and floated a layup attempt over Smith and Johnson that trickled of the rim, but Howard was there to dunk the rebound.
The Hawks had 1.2 seconds to get off a shot, but Jeff Teague didn't release his jumper before the regulation horn.
Notes: Howard was whistled for his eighth technical of the season for arguing a charging call in the third quarter. He is now five away from a one-game suspension. ... Richardson has made at least three 3-pointers in each of the Magic's last five games. ... Anderson, who entered Friday's game leading the NBA in 3-pointers made, said he has been invited to participate in the All-Star 3-point contest. ... Milwaukee Brewers infielder Rickie Weeks and former major leaguer Gary Sheffield were in attendance.
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