The Orlando Magic secured a decisive 120-95 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in the first game of the Play-In Tournament, led by a strong performance from Cole Anthony off the bench with 26 points and six assists. Paolo Banchero contributed 17 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, while Wendell Carter Jr. added 19 points and seven rebounds. The Magic, earning the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, will face the Boston Celtics in their first-round playoff series on Sunday.
Despite Trae Young’s 28 points and six assists for the Hawks, Atlanta struggled to maintain momentum, eventually leading to Young’s ejection from the game due to technical fouls. Georges Niang and Onyeka Okongwu also made notable contributions for the Hawks, but it was not enough to overcome the Magic’s dominant performance.
The Magic’s offensive prowess was on full display, with Banchero, Black, and Anthony leading the charge. The Hawks struggled to score down the stretch, managing just two points in the final 6 minutes of the first quarter. Anthony, in particular, stood out with an impressive shooting performance, making 10 of 17 shots, including 4 of 9 from beyond the arc.
The Hawks, who have previously secured playoff berths through the play-in route, will face off against the winner of the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat matchup to compete for the eighth spot. Overall, the Magic’s strong showing in the Play-In Tournament sets the stage for an exciting matchup against the Celtics in the upcoming playoff series.
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