NBA: Clutch free throw shooting lifts Hawks over Magic

The Atlanta Hawks closed out the Orlando Magic with center Pero Antic hitting free throws to clinch their 112-109 victory, Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time) at the Amway Center in Orlando.

WE WIN! Nelson misses at the buzzer, and we take it 112-109!

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 23, 2014

The home team Magic trailed by double-digits, 88-74, with under a minute left in the third quarter, but an 8-0 run spanning the last two quarters got them within six, 88-82, still 11:05 to play after Tobias Harris charities.

Jeff Teague hit two charities and a banker to give the Hawks some breathing room, but 12 unanswered by the Magic gave them a 98-92 advantage, 6:20 to play.

A layup by Shelvin Mack off Kyle Korver’s seventh assists got Atlanta within two, 102-100, but a split at the line by Victor Oladipo and a Glen Davis turnaround gave the Magic a five-point buffer. Some poor fouls on the part of Orlando though allowed the Hawks to steal back the lead, after Paul Millsap completed an and-one play, 106-105.

Back-to-back hits from Oladipo and Jameer Nelson put the Magic on top anew, 109-106, but they shot themselves in the foot with more fouls. Atlanta got six trips to the line and made all charities to put them on top for good, 112-109. Off a timeout, Nelson had a chance to force OT, but his three-pointer missed.

Atlanta got seven players in double-figures, led by Millsap’s all-around performance of 24 points, six rebounds, five assists, three steals and five blocks. Jeff Teague added 23 markers, DeMarre Carroll and Kyle Korver combined for 29 points and five three-pointers, while role-players Pero Antic, Shelvin Mack and Mike Scott each scored 10.

The Magic got 24 points, seven rebounds and seven assists from Victor Oladipo, while Tobias Harris managed a double-double of 19 points and 12 boards.

Atlanta ruled the boards, 42-33, though both teams shot 49.4 percent from the field. - AMD, GMA News



The scores:

HAWKS - Millsap 24, Teague 23, Carroll 17, Korver 12, Antic 10, Mack 10, Scott 10, Brand 4, Williams 2

MAGIC - Oladipo 24, Harris 19, Nelson 17, Lamb 13, harkless 12, Davis 9, Afflalo 6, O’Quinn 5, Moore 2, Nicholson 2, Maxiell 0

Atlanta    29-31-28-24
Orlando    21-35-24-29