Magic vs. Hawks: The game, Injury Report, and Expected Starting Lineups
This season, the Hawks and Magic have previously met in Mexico City, where the game was an exciting one. After trailing for the majority of the fourth quarter, Hawks point guard Trae Young scored 41 points to lead his team to victory in the closing seconds.
One of the top offensive teams in the NBA will face up against one of the top defensive teams in the league. Who in Orlando will win this evening? Let’s take a look at the match and offer a prediction.Even though the Hawks have one of the finest offenses in the NBA, their strong defense makes up for it.
Atlanta’s terrible play on the other end of the court means that even on their best offensive nights, they will always have to work hard to win. While De’Andre Hunter’s absence does not help, the Hawks’ issues on that end of the court cannot be solved by Hunter alone.
The good news is that Orlando’s firepower is nothing like Indiana’s. The Hawks give up points to almost everyone, so the bad news is that it never seems to matter.
In terms of points scored per game allowed, field goal % allowed, three-point attempts allowed, and three-point percentage allowed, Atlanta is ranked 28th going into tonight’s game. The Hawks rank 30th in terms of effective field goal % allowed and 26th in terms of points allowed per 100 possessions, according to Cleaning the Glass. In the NBA, they may have the worst defense.
With 19 points per game, 16th in field goal %, 28th in three-point attempts, 26th in three-point percentage, first in free throw attempts, and 20th in rebounds, the Magic enter the contest in a competitive position. Paolo Banchero appears to be becoming a star and has been playing exceptionally well lately, which is wonderful news for the Magic. Orlando’s injury report raises a lot of questions, which is poor news for them.
The following players have been ruled out: Goga Bitadze, Wendell Carter Jr., Anthony Black, Markelle Fultz, Joe Ingles, Franz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac, and Gary Harris.
It might be a difficult night for the Magic if the injuries listed in that lengthy report go south. Banchero and defensive mainstay Jalen Suggs will still be there, but the most of the players on the injured report play a significant role. Watch for any updates regarding the Magic’s injury report today.
The Hawks rank third in points per game, eighth in rebounds, sixth in three-point attempts, seventh in three-point %, sixth in free throw attempts, and eighth in field goal percentage going into the contest. Atlanta ranks sixth for points per 100 possessions, sixteenth for effective field goal %, tenth for turnover percentage, third for offensive rebounding percentage, and ninth for free throw rate, according to Cleaning the Glass.
With an NBA-high 17.7 PPG and 11.1 APG average heading into this contest, Trae Young is ranked second. The previous time he faced the Magic, he scored 41 points, making him one of the NBA’s greatest guards this season. He and Dejounte Murray will have to contend with this formidable Orlando defense, and Suggs, who is playing excellently on that end of the court, is probably going to guard Young.
Considering that Orlando is not a particularly strong rebounding club, Clint Capela and Jalen Johnson might be key players tonight. Bitadze and Carter Jr. are both out, and Orlando will have a serious center field position issue tonight.
Report on Injury
Tonight’s Atlanta team is without De’Andre Hunter (right knee inflammation), Mouhamed Gueye (right low back stress fracture), and Vit Krejci (left shoulder subluxation).
Orlando has ruled out Gary Harris, Joe Ingles, Franz Wagner, and Jonathan Isaac; Goga Bitadze, Wendell Carter Jr., Anthony Black, and Markelle Fultz are all doubtful.
Information for Watching and Betting
Deadline to submit: 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Orlando, Florida’s Kia Center
Where to Watch: Bally Sports Southeast, NBA League Pass
Spread and Over/Under: The Hawks are presently 1.5 point favorites in the most recent SI Sportsbook odds, and the over/under is set at 238.5. The Hawks will be the favorites in Orlando tonight.
Estimated Beginning Lineups
Hawks:
G: Trae Young
G: Murray Dejounte
F: Saddiq Bey
F: Johnson Jalen
C: Clint Capela
Magic:
G. Anthony Black
G: Jalen Suggs
F: Paolo Banchero
F: Chuma Okeke
C: Goga Bitadze
This is merely a projection because it is impossible to forecast the Magic lineup until we have more details. However, Suggs and Banchero will always start in the starting lineup.
Dejounte Murray is the Hawks’ player to watch.
Murray has been the subject of the majority of trade speculations involving the Hawks in recent days, but even though he is still a member of the team, he remains an essential member of the starting lineup and has been performing well recently. Murray may need to have a big game if Suggs challenges Young tonight in order for the Hawks to win.
Paolo Banchero is the Magic player to watch.
Orlando will need Banchero to give them everything they can tonight if the Magic’s injury report comes out badly. In a victory over the Denver Nuggets on Friday, he just recorded his first triple-double, and he keeps getting better. He is an emerging great player who plays for the Orlando club.
Forecast
Once more, it’s hard to forecast given Orlando’s injury report. Orlando would be my choice if all those players play because of the Hawks’ defense. Atlanta should win if some of those players sit, in my opinion. As of right now, I’m going to presume that those men will play and that Orlando, even without Wagner, will win the game at home.