Orlando Magic Team Report - February 1

(Basketball News) - Orlando saw a two-game win streak come to an end with an 80-79 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on Monday night.

Steve Francis paced the Magic with 24 points, while Grant Hill added 19 points and eight rebounds. Francis is registering 21.6 points, 6.9 assists and 6.4 rebounds per contest. Meanwhile, Hill is tallying 18.9 points per contest.

Dwight Howard tacked on 16 points and 11 rebounds for Orlando, which shot just 38 percent in the contest. Howard has had a solid rookie campaign, posting 10.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per contest.

The Magic hit only 2-of-7 (.286) from three-point range and 17-of-21 (.810) from the free throw line. Orlando outrebounded the Hawks, 42-41, but allowed them to shoot 43.4 percent from the field.

Center Kelvin Cato missed the contest because of a sinus infection. Cato is listed as questionable for this evening’s contest against Cleveland at TD Waterhouse Center.

Orlando is ranked eighth in the NBA in scoring (99.8 ppg) and 26th in points allowed (99.9 ppg). The Magic is shooting 44.9 percent from the field (t-10th), while allowing foes to drain 43.9 percent (11th) of their shots.

Orlando, which is playing the lone home contest in four games this evening, is 15-5 at home this season. The Magic have won six of seven and 10 of their l3 home tilts.

After the Cleveland game, the Magic will hit the road to take on Boston (Friday) and Cleveland (Saturday) to close out their week. Orlando has dropped three of its last four road games.