Los Angeles - Acie Law scored 20 points, fellow-reserve Maurice Evans added 17 and the Hawks broke open the game in the decisive third quarter en route to a 118-101 victory over the host Orlando Magic on Monday night in the pre-season opener for both teams.

Trailing by two at halftime, the Hawks caught fire and outscored the Magic 45-30 on 17-of-24 shooting, including a 60-foot buzzer-beating heave by Law to take a 94-81 advantage into the final frame.

Al Horford had 13 points while Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson and Zaza Pachulia contributed 11 apiece for Atlanta, which outscored Orlando 69-50 after intermission.

Rashard Lewis topped Orlando with 22 points, while Dwight Howard finished with 17 points, five rebounds and eight blocked shots in 26 minutes.

Elsewhere: Minnesota Timberwolves 117, Milwaukee Bucks 77 Rashad McCants came off the bench to score 22 points and Al Jefferson had 18 as the visiting Timberwolves mauled the short-handed Bucks in the pre-season opener for both clubs.

Rookie centre Kevin Love, picked fifth overall in this year's draft, collected 16 points for Minnesota, which built a commanding 60-37 halftime cushion en route to the blowout. Newcomer Mike Miller added 12 points and seven assists.

Charlie Villanueva scored a team-high 14 points for Milwaukee, which shot an icy 32.9 per cent (25-of-76) from the field.

The Bucks played without centre Andrew Bogut (migraine headache), guards Charlie Bell (foot injury), Luke Ridenour (right knee tendinitis) and Tyronn Lue (groin strain).

Small forward Richard Jefferson, acquired in an off-season trade from New Jersey, left the game with just eight minutes gone after suffering a left leg injury.