The Orlando Magic (39-40) defeated the Atlanta Hawks (38-41) 119-112 on Tuesday, April 8, with Paolo Banchero leading the way with 33 points and 10 rebounds.
Franz Wagner added 22 points for Orlando, while Wendell Carter Jr. chipped in 17 points, nine rebounds, and six steals. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also contributed 15 points as the Magic strengthened their position in the Eastern Conference play-in race.
For Atlanta, Onyeka Okongwu matched his career-high with 30 points, adding 14 rebounds and three steals. Trae Young scored 28 points and dished out 10 assists, but it wasn’t enough as the Hawks dropped their fourth game in the last five.
With the win, the Magic took a two-game lead over Atlanta and a 2.5-game lead over Chicago in the battle for the seventh seed and homecourt advantage in the play-in tournament. Orlando has now won seven of their last nine games.
Late in the fourth quarter, a series of easy layups by Wagner, Banchero, and Cory Joseph, along with a technical foul on Okongwu, pushed the Magic’s lead into double figures.
The Hawks struggled with turnovers, committing 18, and were inefficient from three-point range, making just 14 of 41 attempts. Orlando fared better, connecting on 14 of 34 three-pointers.
Next up for the Hawks is a road game at Brooklyn on Thursday, while the Magic will host Boston on Wednesday.
