Orlando Magic forward Vince Carter (right) drives against Joe Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena in Atlanta. The Magic won, 93-76.

ATLANTA (Reuters) – Dwight Howard responded to a halftime challenge from his coach to lead the Orlando Magic to a 93-76 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.

Howard amassed 22 points and 17 rebounds as the Magic recovered from a slow start to hand the Hawks their first home loss of the season.

“He’s a monster,” teammate Anthony Johnson told reporters of Howard. “At halftime, the coach challenged him to be the best man on the court and he stepped up and did that.”

Atlanta was attempting to record a 8-0 home start for the first time since the 1993-94 season but instead slipped to a second straight defeat, despite 22 points from Joe Johnson.

The Hawks took a 51-39 lead into halftime but quickly lost momentum in the second half.

Vince Carter recorded 21 points and nine rebounds for the Magic, who surged ahead on the back of a 21-6 run in the fourth quarter that put the visitors 90-73 ahead with 1:36 left.

The win moved Orlando (12-4) ahead of the Hawks (11-4) at the top of the Southeast Division.

Atlanta has been a surprise package in the Eastern Conference this season thanks in part to improved play from young forward Josh Smith and the acquisition of key reserve Jamal Crawford.

Smith had 13 points and 13 rebounds and the Hawks closed the first half with a 16-3 run and held the Magic to just one field goal in that stretch.

However, the game turned in the third when Atlanta was outscored 28-14.

“We became a jump shooting team in the third quarter,” Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said. “They were going inside and getting to the free throw line and they made shots.”

Utah 105, Chicago 86
Carlos Boozer scored 28 points on 12-for-14 shooting as Utah ended a run of three defeats by Chicago with a 105-86 rout.

Deron Williams had 21 points and six assists for the Jazz, while Boozer also had eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks.