The Orlando Magic are playing yet again without All-Star center Dwight Howard on Friday night, and they've taken a beating in the first half against the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks shot 56 percent from the floor in the first 24 minutes, jumping out to a 62-42 halftime lead with a spate of easy buckets. Howard's absence, as has been the case over the past couple weeks, is a huge hole in the paint. Josh Smith has 10 points for Atlanta already while Joe Johnson has scored a game-high 11.
No one for Orlando has stepped up on the offensive end yet, with Glen Davis continuing his increased production but scoring only eight points so far. The Magic shot a woeful 19 percent from behind the arc, which is obviously their one way to a victory with Howard out. Jameer Nelson is just two of ten from the floor and Orlando has already committed ten turnovers as a team.
While the 20 point deficit will be hard to overcome against their division foe, if their guards can get hot from outside, things could get interesting for Stand Van Gundy's club.
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