RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- With Tracy McGrady ailing, Mike Miller
picked a good time to snap out of his offensive funk.
The rookie scored a career-high 23 points and Troy Hudson added
21 Saturday night as the Orlando Magic snapped a five-game losing
streak with a 114-92 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
"The thing I liked was he was aggressive," Orlando coach Doc
Rivers said of Miller. "He didn't go into the game trying to be a
playmaker. He went in and played like a scorer ... That's what
we've wanted."
Miller, starting in place of the injured McGrady, shot 9-of-19.
Hudson surpassed his point total for the entire season and finished
one shy of his career-high on 9-for-15 shooting in 19 minutes.
"We knew this was coming," said Miller, a first-round draft
pick who began the night averaging 6.8 points and 3.2 rebounds.
"It seems weird to say, but we're improving offensively and
defensively. If we continue to improve on both ends like we are,
we're going to win the close games and we're going to win these
kinds of games. I think things are starting to turn around for
us."
Orlando beat the Hawks without McGrady and Grant Hill for the
second time in three weeks. McGrady sat out a 3-point road win at
Atlanta on Nov. 4 while serving a one-game suspension for slapping
Philadelphia's Eric Snow.
The Magic's leading scorer is listed as day-to-day with an
infection in his left hand. McGrady cut the hand, as well as a
finger on his right hand, at Utah on Nov. 16 when a glass window he
was standing against shattered at the team hotel.
McGrady played in three games before the hand apparently became
infected. He was listed as questionable for Friday night's game at
Boston, but played and had 26 points and 10 rebounds in an overtime
loss.
"Ever since it swelled up, there's been a lot of pain. I
couldn't really go left (against the Celtics). Every time I tried
to go left, I lost the ball," said McGrady, who had the cut
drained Saturday and is listed as day-to-day.
"It's really up to me now if I can handle the pain. It depends
on how I feel after they drain it (Sunday). That will tell whether
I can play Monday (against Milwaukee) or whenever."
Atlanta led just once, 2-0, and never made a serious run at the
Magic after falling behind by 11 late in the first quarter. It was
66-44 at the half and Orlando built the margin to 29 before
settling for a 95-68 lead after three quarters.
"This might have been our worst loss of the year," Atlanta's
Alan Henderson said. "The others have been close and competitive.
This one just got out of hand."
Jason Terry led the Hawks with 21 points. Henderson added 15 and
Lorenzen Wright contributed 12, including two baskets during a
stretch in which Atlanta trimmed its deficit to 102-88.
Miller equaled his previous season-high with 19 points in the
first half, helping the Magic build a 66-44 halftime lead. The
fifth pick in this year's draft shot 8-of-12 and made all three of
his 3-point attempts, while Hudson also had his most productive
night of the season before the break with 12 points in relief of
Darrell Armstrong.
Game
notes
Bo Outlaw's shot from midcourt at the buzzer gave the Magic
a 39-29 lead after one quarter. It was just the second 3-pointer
he's made in 29 career attempts ... Orlando is 3-7 since Hill went
on the injured list to rehabilitate his left ankle, which he broke
during last season's playoffs ... The Hawks were outscored 18-0
from behind the 3-point line in the opening half.
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NBA Scoreboard
Atlanta Clubhouse
Orlando Clubhouse
Infected hand keeps Orlando's McGrady off court
RECAPS
Toronto 79
New York 75
Charlotte 109
Cleveland 98
Houston 91
Miami 80
Orlando 114
Atlanta 92
Dallas 108
Denver 84
Washington 107
Milwaukee 100
San Antonio 96
Philadelphia 76
Portland 86
New Jersey 84
Golden State 114
Minnesota 93
Phoenix 95
LA Clippers 89
Sacramento 125
Seattle 101
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