Orlando Magic: Top 10 moments of the 2018-19 NBA season
By Luke Duffy
5. Hammering the Atlanta Hawks
The Magic needed some statement wins on the way to making it back to the postseason, and few were as impressive as the 149-113 hammering they dealt the Atlanta Hawks in what was their final home game before the 2019 NBA Playoffs. There were multiple reasons this was one to remember.
The Magic, not known for their offensive prowess over the last seven years, scored a franchise-record 81 points in the first half to put the lottery-bound Hawks to the sword. Vucevic, Evan Fournier and Ross all scored 25 points in the win.
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Gordon, ever the two-way presence, had 10 points and 11 rebounds behind the heavy-hitters. This was a game they needed to win with their spot in the postseason still in the balance, and they responded in resounding fashion.
The result wasn’t ever in doubt, and it was a great send-off in front of the home crowd before they got on the road to book their place in the playoffs. Up to that point, the team had dropped a puzzling amount of games to inferior opponents.
The Bulls, New York Knicks, Memphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers and even Phoenix Suns had all beaten the Magic throughout the year. This was another potential banana skin, and they responded in convincing fashion in one of the best games to watch this team play this decade.