Atlanta Hawks Team Report - February 29

(Basketball News) - The Atlanta Hawks dropped their second straight game on Saturday, as they were on the wrong end of a 104-99 decision against the Orlando Magic in a battle of two of the worst teams in the league at Philips Arena.

Chris Crawford tied a career-high with 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds while Stephen Jackson contributed 24 points and handed out 10 assists for the Hawks, who have dropped five of their last six contests.

Jason Terry posted 23 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in the setback, while Bob Sura scored 14 points and grabbed 12 boards.

Joel Przybilla also had a career-high 15 rebounds in the loss.

Orlando led by four after three quarters and increased the margin to 86-76 on Drew Gooden’s layup with 7:28 left in the game. The Hawks then reeled off five straight points, capped by Terry’s breakaway layup, to pull within five.

Jackson’s three-pointer moments later brought Atlanta within 88-86, but Tyronn Lue then answered with a shot from behind the arc to make it 91-86 with 2:20 left. After each team scored, Juwan Howard was fouled with 32.9 seconds remaining and the forward from Michigan made both free throws to seal the win.

The Hawks did not get any closer than four points the rest of the game.

Atlanta, which will wrap up its set against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, has won two of three and three of its last five games at home and is 12-17 in its gym this season.

The Hawks lost to the Lakers earlier in the year and could be at a disadvantage on Tuesday, as the road team in this series has won four of the last five meetings. The Lakers have won two straight and four of their last five in Dixie.