The NBA Play-In is nearing and it’s time to dissect the matchups. The first Play-In matchup we’ll look at is the Atlanta Hawks vs. the Orlando Magic.
Which team won the season series, boasts the bigger star power, and ultimately holds the advantage to win this game and advance to the playoffs?
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Hawks vs. Magic: Season series
The Hawks and Magic played each other four times during the regular season. This matchup is close, as the two teams split the season series 2-2.
The Hawks took the first game on February 10, 2025, in Orlando. Atlanta won 112-106 despite the Magic getting big games from Franz Wagner (37 points) and Paolo Banchero (31 points).
The second meeting between the two occurred just 10 days later in Atlanta and there was a different outcome. Orlando walked away with the 114-108 victory, thanks to 36 points by Banchero.
The Hawks star guard, Tre Young, had a huge game scoring 38 points, but it wasn’t enough. If Atlanta wanted to get back in the win column, they will need to give Young some more help.
The third meeting, which took place in Orlando, saw the Hawks give Young some help. Atlanta’s star guard dropped 28 points and 10 assists, while getting help from Onyeka Okongwu, who scored 30 while grabbing 14 rebounds.
Despite this help, it was the Magic who emerged victorious. Orlando won 119-112, thanks to 33 points from Banchero, 22 from Wagner, and 17 points with 6 steals from Wendell Carter Jr.
The final meeting of the season occurred yesterday in Atlanta, and it was the Hawks who took flight. Both teams were without their best players in the game, so the question was, who will step up?
It would be the Hawks, who won 117-105 behind strong bench play. Daeqwon Plowden and Jacob Toppin each dropped 17 points off the bench for the Hawks. Vit Krejci chipped in 13 points, while Garrison Mathews added 12.
As mentioned, this matchup is bound to be close. The game will take place in Orlando, but with the road team each winning a game on their opponents’ homecourt, this matchup could go either way.
