The NBA’s regular season has come to a close and we’ve reached the Eastern Conference play-in tournament as a pair of Southeast Division teams collide in the Sunshine State as the eighth-seeded Atlanta Hawks face the seventh-seeded Orlando Magic and we have you covered with our Hawks vs. Magic prediction. The winner earns the seventh seed and a first-round matchup with Boston while the loser taking on the winner of the 9/10 matchup. These teams met in the regular season finale Sunday in Atlanta, with the Hawks picking up a 117-105 home win. In the all-time regular season series between the teams, the Hawks own a 74-65 advantage, though the teams split four meetings this season. Read more about this Hawks vs. Magic prediction! When the going gets tough, our NBA Picks get winning!
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Atlanta Trying to Earn Date With Boston
Atlanta closed the regular season winning three straight and four of their last five by beating Orlando Sunday at home. The Hawks finished the regular season 40-42 and finished second in the Southeast Division, one game behind the Magic for the top spot. Against Orlando, Atlanta closed the opening quarter on a 9-2 run to break a 22-22 tie and led the rest of the way. The Hawks pushed the margin to 12 at the half and never let Orlando closer than six the rest of the way. Atlanta shot 53.4% from the floor, including 17 of 40 from three-point range, and overcame 15 turnovers in the win. Terance Mann led the Hawks with 19 points in the win.
The Hawks enter this contest 5th in scoring offense by averaging 118.2 points per game. Atlanta is 14th in rebounding by collecting 44.5 boards a night while the team stands 2nd by dishing out 29.6 assists per contest. Atlanta is 27th in the league in scoring defense as they allow opponents to score 119.3 points per game this season. Trae Young is leading the team with 24.2 points and 11.6 assists per game this season. Jalen Johnson pours in 18.9 points, 10 rebounds and five assists a night. Clint Capela (8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds), Onyeka Okongwu (13.4 points, 8.9 rebounds), Caris LeVert (12.1 points), Dyson Daniels (14.1 points), Terance Mann, Zaccharie Risacher (12.6 points), Larry Nance Jr., Garrison Matthews and Kobe Bufkin are key rotation pieces for coach Quin Snyder. Atlanta is 14th in the league in field goal percentage by hitting 47.2% of their shots from the floor this season. The Hawks are 14th in threes per game as they hit 13.5 per contest and stand 18th in three-point percentage as they hit 35.8% of their attempts from beyond the arc. Atlanta is below average in free throw shooting as they are 18th in the league by converting 77.5% of their attempts on the year.
Bufkin (shoulder) last played December 8 and is done for the season after surgery. Johnson (shoulder) suffered a torn labrum against the Pistons January 23 and is out for the year. Nance Jr. (knee) last played February 10 while Capela (hand) last took the floor March 10: both are out here. Watch for updates ahead of tip-off.
Magic Looking to Avoid Second Play-In Contest
Orlando had won five straight and nine of their previous 11 before falling to Atlanta in a meaningless regular season finale Sunday. The Magic finished the regular season 41-41 on the year, winning the Southeast Division by one game over Atlanta. Orlando was even late in the first quarter in Sunday’s finale only to see the Hawks close the stanza on a 9-2 run to trail 31-24 after one. The Magic was down 12 at the half and couldn’t get closer than six after intermission as they took the loss. Orlando shot 45.5% from the floor, including 15 of 35 from three-point range, but allowed Atlanta to shoot 53.4% in the game. Anthony Black led the Magic with 20 points and 10 boards in the loss.
The Magic entered Monday 28th in the league in scoring offense as they average 105.4 points per game on the season. Orlando is 27th in the league in rebounding with 41.8 rebounds per contest while they are 30th in assists by dishing 23 dimes a night. The Magic are 1st in the league in scoring defense by allowing 105.5 points per contest. Paolo Banchero is leading the Magic as he averages 25.9 points plus 7.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists a night on the season. Franz Wagner adds 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 dimes per contest. Wendell Carter Jr. (9.1 points, 7.2 rebounds), Jalen Suggs (16.2 points, four rebounds, 3.7 assists) and Moritz Wagner (12.9 points, 4.9 rebounds) are solid contributors. Gary Harris, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jonathan Isaac, Cole Anthony, Caleb Houstan, Tristan Da Silva, Cory Joseph, Goga Bitadze and Anthony Black all have to contribute for the Magic. Orlando is 27th in the league in field goal percentage as they shot 44.5% from the field this season. The Magic stand 30th in the league in threes per game as they hit 11.2 triples a night while they are 30th in three-point shooting by hitting 31.8% from beyond the arc. Orlando is below average at the charity stripe as they are 19th in the league by sinking 77.5% of their attempts as a team this season.
Mo Wagner (knee) was injured December 21 and is done for the year. Suggs (knee) last played January 25 and is done for the rest of the season.
Best Bets for Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
The teams split four meeting this season with the home team prevailing twice. Atlanta took the win in Sunday’s game where both teams liberally played reserves with nothing at stake. The Hawks have the edge offensively and in the playmaking department while Orlando is an elite defensive team. Atlanta failed to reach their season average in points in any of the four meetings this season and that will be a challenge for the Hawks. Orlando wasn’t a great home team, going 22-19 on the year, while Atlanta was 19-22 on the road. With Atlanta’s defensive issues, give the Magic the edge here.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Atlanta has piled up 122.3 ppg in their last 10 games while giving up a massive 119.1 points a game in that span. Seven times in that span, Atlanta has surrendered at least 119 points. The Hawks are 3rd in terms of tempo (102.6 possessions a night) but stand just 18th in offensive efficiency on the season. Orlando is third-last in the league in scoring offense. The Magic hasn’t been much better lately, averaging 108.5 ppg in their last 10 games, though that is more than three points better than their full season average. Orlando is second-last in the league in tempo with 96.1 possessions a game while ranking fourth-worst in offensive rating. Points may be hard to come by here as bot teams are tight hoping to avoid the second play-in game Friday night. Take the under here as a result.
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