ATLANTA, May 13 -- The Atlanta Hawks nearly blew a 20-point lead Monday night, but the Orlando Magic's inability to make free throws prevented them from completing the comeback and the sweep. Steve Smith scored a career playoff-high 35 points and Atlanta hit 12 three-pointers in a 104-99 victory over Orlando that enabled the Hawks to stave off elimination and climb within three games to one in their Eastern Conference semifinal series. The Hawks made 7-of-10 three-point shots while the Magic were just 16-of-32 from the foul line. Shaquille O'Neal, who finished with 19 points, was the biggest culprit with a 5-of-17 effort from the free- throw line. 'I never lose confidence, I just missed them,' said O'Neal. 'It was my fault. I was counting my chickens before they hatched. That won't happen on Wednesday, I guarantee it.' The series resumes Wednesday night in Orlando. 'They had nothing to lose, we just weren't up for the challenge,' said Horace Grant, who had a career playoff-high 29 points and 20 rebounds. 'But the great thing about this league is we can redeem ourselves.' The loss was the first for Orlando in the playoffs. The Magic swept Detroit three straight in the first round and won the first three games from Atlanta. 'Today's game was a pride game,' said Atlanta's Christian Laettner, who scored 11 of his 17 points in the first quarter. 'None of us wanted to get swept. We came out and played with a lot of heart and determination.
I think it was just a case where we were just aggressive and Smitty hit everything.' Smith, who madeseven three-pointers, scored 23 of his points in the first half when Atlanta built a 67-47 lead. But Orlando outscored the Hawks 30-9 in the opening nine minutes of the second half to take a 77- 76 lead. Smith helped rally Atlanta, sinking a three-pointer and a baseline jumper as the Hawks started the fourth quarter with a 12-5 run to take a 94-88 advantage. 'That's what we need out of Steve, he gave us great offense,' said Atlanta's Mookie Blaylock, who had 14 points and 11 assists, including four three-pointers. A hook shot by O'Neal pulled Orlando within 98-97 with 1:31 remaining. After Grant Long hit a corner jumper for Atlanta, O'Neal missed a pair of free throws and Smith converted a jumper in the lane with 40 seconds left to give Atlanta a 102-97 advantage. 'A lot of people were writing us off and we weren't going to just lay down because they are a great team,' said Smith. 'It was definitely a gut check for us. We just have to keep doing what we're doing.' Penny Hardaway scored 29 points for the Magic. The Hawks hit 16-of-23 shots and set a club record for points in a quarter with 44. Smith scored 16 points in the quarter, including four three-pointers, as the Hawks built a 44-29 lead. Atlanta led by as many as 22 points, 63-41, after a jumper by Grant Long with 2:56 left in the second quarter. The Hawks held a 71-52 advantage with 10:32 left in the third quarter before the Magic went on a 25-5 run. Hardaway scored 11 points and Grant added seven in the spurt. O'Neal's layup with 3:16 left capped the run and gave Orlando a 77-76 lead. 'We didn't want to come out of the third quarter down 20,' said Hardaway. 'We got back in the game but unfortunately didn't win.' The Magic outscored the Hawks, 36-15, in the quarter and held an 83- 82 advantage, but Smith hit a three-pointer to start the fourth quarter and Atlanta led the rest of the way. Stacey Augmon had 13 points and Long added 11 for the Hawks. Orlando starters Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott combined for just 13 points on 5-of-21 shooting from the field. 'They're a good team and they made a good run, but the thing is to be able to withstand it,' said Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens. 'I thought that our players showed a lot of poise during that stretch because it's real easy to slide under. We wanted the game badly and I thought we played real well. The effort that was given by the team was tremendous.' 'I think we'll close this out Wednesday night,' said Grant. 'It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, but we're veterans. We're going back home. We're going to take the attitude that we took in the first two games.'