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Hawks hold off Magic's rally

 
Published March 16, 1990|Updated Oct. 16, 2005

Kevin Willis scored 11 of his season-high 30 points in the final 7:15 as the Atlanta Hawks held off a late rally to defeat the Orlando Magic 130-123 Thursday night. The Magic trailed nine different times by 17 points before twice cutting the deficit to two on baskets by Michael Ansley in the final quarter, the last with 7:37 left to make it 102-100.

That's when Willis, who also had a season-high 17 rebounds, went to work, scoring seven of Atlanta's next nine points as the Hawks built a 10-point lead with just under six minutes remaining and were never again threatened.

It was only the second victory in the last nine games for the Hawks, who ended Orlando's two-game winning streak and completed a 5-0 season sweep of the Magic.

Dominique Wilkins led the Hawks with 32 points, 24 in the first half. Moses Malone added 22 points and Spud Webb 19.

Reggie Theus led the Magic with 32 points, Ansley added 24 and Terry Catledge had 23.

Wilkins had eight points as the Hawks spurted to an 11-2 lead and led 21-4 on Malone's dunk midway through the opening quarter.

The Hawks held comfortable leads until Scott Skiles scored seven points to help chop a 13-point deficit to four just before Ansley got the Magic within two twice.

Ansley had a chance to cut it to one with 7:37 left, but missed a free throw that was rebounded by Catledge, who missed a layup that would have tied the game.