Magic use huge 1st half to rout Hawks 149-113 in home finale

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Orlando Magic used a franchise-record 81 points in the first half to cruise past the Atlanta Hawks 149-113 on Friday night in their regular-season home finale and take another step toward a playoff berth.

Nikola Vucevic, Terrence Ross and Evan Fournier scored 25 points each for Orlando, which set a season high for points despite having 19 turnovers. Vucevic added 10 rebounds to compile his 59th double-double of the season. Ross made six 3-pointers, and Fournier shot 11 for 14.

The Magic’s 20th win in 29 games left them at 40-40. With road games remaining at Boston and Charlotte, they are attempting to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years. Orlando entered the night in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and leapfrogged idle Brooklyn, which is 39-40. The Magic could also move past Detroit, which was a39-39 and playing at Oklahoma City later Friday night.

Trae Young led the Hawks with 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

The Magic made 13 of their first 15 shots and took a 29-point lead in the first quarter.

Vucevic scored nine points during a five-minute, 28-2 run that gave Orlando a 33-7 lead with 4:56 left in the quarter. Gordon’s 3-pointer made it 42-13 before the Hawks scored the final five points of the period.

But two 3-pointers by Ross during a 13-2 run midway through the second quarter stretched Orlando’s lead to 71-33. The Magic shot 66 percent in the first half and made nine of 16 3-point shots.

TIP-INS

Hawks: G Kevin Huerter sat out due to mid-back pain. … G Kent Bazemore was out with a left adductor strain. … The Hawks are 58-58 all-time against Orlando, but lost all four meetings this season by double digits.

Magic: Orlando has won nine straight home games for the first time in more than 10 years. … The Magic played their 33rd straight game with the same starting lineup.

UP NEXT

Hawks: Play at Milwaukee on Sunday night.

Magic: Play at Boston on Sunday night.