Tue Apr 15 21:54:49 2008

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Evans guides Magic over Hawks

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Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Maurice Evans scored a career-high 27 points as the Orlando Magic downed the Atlanta Hawks, 121-105, at Philips Arena.

Hedo Turkoglu had 17 points and eight assists while Dwight Howard posted his league-leading 69th double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Magic, who have won four of their last six.

Orlando, the Southeast Division champion and third seed in the Eastern Conference, will open its playoff schedule against Toronto.

"The main thing is that it was a good game for us and we got a lot of people into the game," said Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy. "It was just a good game all the way around."

Marvin Williams and Salim Stoudamire each had 16 points for the Hawks, who have lost three of four.

Atlanta has the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and will play the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the opening round.

"We definitely feel pretty good, but there is no doubt that we are the underdogs," said Atlanta guard Joe Johnson. "But it's cool like that. We ain't got nothing to lose so we have to go out and play hard every night."

Holding a two-point lead halfway through the first quarter, Orlando ripped off nine straight points to help the team take a 28-20 lead into the second quarter.

Atlanta, though, began the second stanza with a 14-1 run and held a 34-31 lead with a little over nine minutes left on a Stoudamire jumper.

The Magic kept the game close through the next several minutes, but the Hawks scored the final five points of the half and took a 55-51 lead into the locker room.

With the Hawks holding a two-point lead early in the third quarter, the Magic ripped off an 11-2 run and held a 74-67 advantage on a Rashard Lewis jumper with under six minutes remaining. It was an 87-78 Orlando advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Atlanta got as close as seven points a couple of times in the final 12 minutes, but Orlando was able to hold on for the win.

Game Notes

Orlando hosts Washington on Wednesday to close the regular season...Atlanta will play in Miami in Wednesday to complete its regular season...Orlando snapped a six-game losing streak in Atlanta...Each team won twice in the season series...Orlando connected on 57.3 percent of its shots while Atlanta made 46.6 percent of its shots.