The Orlando Magic haven't stood two games above the .500 mark since completing a stretch of games in early December which included blowouts of Memphis and Atlanta.

With a 119-103 win Saturday night over the Grizzlies to build on, the Magic are back home tonight to face the Hawks, who have one of the NBA's worst road records at 4-16 and gave up a season-high 129 points in their last visit to the TD Waterhouse Centre.

A win would place the Magic among the handful of Eastern Conference teams not at or below the break-even point. But coach Doc Rivers wants more. Of the Magic's next 12 games, only three are against opponents who have looked formidable during the first half of the season -- the Toronto Raptors (Sunday), the Los Angeles Lakers (Jan. 30) and the San Antonio Spurs (Feb. 3).

"We have a chance of really getting over the .500 mark -- hopefully by three, four, five or six games," Rivers said Monday. "That would be nice to do."

If they continue to produce on offense like they did last week, that goal should be within reach. The Magic averaged 114 points against Dallas, Milwaukee and Memphis in a turnaround from their sluggish performances in losses at home to Portland and New Jersey.

"In the prior games, we were getting the ball inside and just standing there," said Mike Miller, who is averaging almost 17 points a game and shooting better from the floor than Tracy McGrady. "Now we're getting the ball inside and moving and cutting and finding the open guy."

"We've got a great offensive rhythm. We really do," Rivers said. "Over the last four or five games, we're putting up big numbers. Unfortunately, at times, we're giving up big numbers, too. But we're defending better."

The Hawks went into their contest Monday against the Houston Rockets ranked last in points allowed per game (100.9) and defensive field-goal percentage (.464). In contrast to them, the Miami Heat -- whom the Magic host Thursday night -- are second in both of those categories.

And after the worst start by far of Pat Riley's coaching career, the Heat have shown signs of life again with victories in their last four games, including one over the Lakers.

"Don't look at Miami's record," Rivers said. "If you do, ask the West Coast teams they just buzzed through."

The Magic have already played 21 times against teams from the Western Conference, which is more than anyone else in the East. But while that scheduling could give them an edge on New Jersey, Boston and Washington, the Magic must also contend in the Atlantic Division with the resurgence of both the Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers.

"Philly's going to be in the thick of things. I've always thought that," Rivers said. "Miami's going to have to play exceptionally well the rest of the year to make it to the playoffs. But they are playing much better. So they're going to be a thorn in everyone's side."

The Magic were 11-9 after trouncing the Hawks but then went 1-5 during a nine-day road trip. The only time they've had a winning record in the last six weeks was when a 102-91 victory Jan. 9 over the Sixers left them at 19-18.

"You can place the blame on a lot of things," Miller said.