ATLANTA — Paolo Banchero had 36 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists as the Orlando Magic rallied from an early 19-point deficit to defeat the Atlanta Hawks 114-108 on Thursday night. The Magic's dramatic comeback not only secured them a win but also allowed them to strengthen their playoff positioning, moving to seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
Franz Wagner also made significant contributions with 25 points, and Cole Anthony added 17. This victory marks the Magic's ascent above the Miami Heat and 1.5 games clear of the Hawks. Banchero's impressive performance is noteworthy; he now has 47 games with at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists before turning 23, trailing only LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
On the other side of the court, Trae Young led the Hawks with 38 points, demonstrating his scoring prowess, but it wasn't enough to secure the win. Rookie Zaccharie Risacher also made headlines with his first double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
Early on, things did not look promising for the Magic as they struggled with their shooting. They connected on only 24% of their three-point attempts, making just six of 25. The Hawks jumped to an early lead, going up by as much as 19 points thanks to strong performances, including Clint Capela's tip-in after returning from injury.
Despite the slow start, the Magic commenced their comeback after being down 40-21 early in the second quarter, rallying to take the lead by halftime. Outscoring Atlanta 38-18 during the second quarter, this run was fueled largely by Banchero, who scored 18 points during this stretch. The Magic went to halftime with the narrowest of leads, 59-58.
Maintaining their momentum after the break, the Magic entered the fourth quarter up 90-81. Although the Hawks attempted to claw back, the Magic delivered when it mattered most. With under three minutes left, Anthony and Banchero hit back-to-back three-pointers, increasing the lead to 109-103. This sequence was pivotal, helping them hold the Hawks at bay for the final moments of the game.
Following the game, Young expressed his frustration with the officiation, stating, "They shot 10 more free throws than us. I feel like if you asked anybody around the league, you would know they’re probably more physical than we are, and the way we drove. I mean, even some of the guys are laughing when they weren’t calling fouls." This statement shed light on the heated atmosphere during the game and how the officiation might have played a role.
Throughout the night, the Hawks faced challenges defensively, particularly during the final three quarters. The increasing number of fouls called against them–25 compared to the Magic's 22–could indicate areas for improvement as they aim to solidify their playoff contention.
This matchup evened the season series between the two teams at one game apiece, but with still two more fixtures left on the schedule, the battle for playoff seeding is far from over.
Looking forward, the Magic will kick off a lengthy seven-game homestand starting Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies, hoping to continue their winning momentum. Meanwhile, the Hawks will host the Detroit Pistons as they strive to regroup and address their recent defensive shortcomings.
With both teams eyeing the playoff picture closely, every game is becoming increasingly significant, making the upcoming matchups all the more compelling.