The Orlando Magic hope to build momentum in advance of All-Star weekend when they host the Atlanta Hawks on Monday in the first meeting between the Eastern Conference rivals this season.
The Magic opened their three-game homestand leading into the break with a 112-111 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. Orlando entered that game having lost five of six on a road trip that extended to California and back.
With the most recent victory, the Magic improved to 16-9 at home.
The Hawks have won two straight games and three of their last four after a 125-111 road victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday. Atlanta is 13-15 on the road.
Atlanta won three of four games against Orlando last year, but three of the contests were close; the Hawks won games by one and two points and the Magic’s lone victory came in overtime.
The two teams are jostling for early playoff position, with Orlando No. 8 and Atlanta No. 9 in the East.
The Magic were just happy to be home after their longest road trip of the season.
“Coming off the West Coast, it’s time change, the sleep,” Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said. “But our guys pulled it out. Each guy individually stepping up. Guys trusting each other to make the right play, the right pass. This is what you ask them to do.”
Franz Wagner had 33 points and 12 rebounds against the Spurs, but the game-winning shot came from Paolo Banchero with about 25 seconds remaining.
“It’s never easy after the trip that we had, but at this point in the season, there’s really no time to waste and to wait,” Wagner said. “I thought everybody played with great energy all game and we need more of that. That gives us a chance every night.”
Wagner and Banchero have been the key pieces for Orlando all season. Wagner averages 25.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists. Banchero averages 22.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
Banchero has been a tough matchup for the Hawks. He is averaging 22.3 points against Atlanta in seven career games and last year torched them for 35 and 26 points in two of his three games against the Hawks.
This will be Atlanta’s second game with its four newly acquired players. Georges Niang was in the starting lineup on Saturday and provided a scoring boost with 16 points — knocking down four consecutive 3-pointers.
Rookie Zaccharie Risacher will likely play a larger offensive role over the final two months after the trade of De’Andre Hunter and the season-ending injury to Jalen Johnson. Risacher scored 18 against the Wizards — matching his third-best output of the season — and made a pair of 3-pointers.
“Any time a rookie in this league, particularly a 19-year-old, there’s going to be ebbs and flows, there’s going to be adversity,” Atlanta coach Quin Snyder said. “I think he’s been tough minded in how he handles that. One of the things that he’s done is he’s kept shooting.”
Atlanta is led offensively by Trae Young. The veteran is averaging 23.5 points and a league-leading 11.4 assists. He had 35 points — his 14th game with 30-plus points — and 14 rebounds on Saturday for his 31st double-double.
In 20 career games against Orlando, Young is averaging 26.5 points and 8.8 assists. Young scored 41 against the Magic on Nov. 9, 2023, to set the franchise record for points against Orlando.
–Field Level Media
