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Today is the final day of the regular season across the NBA and while there are some games that have plenty of meaning, there are several that don't when it comes to the standings and playoff picture, including the matchup between the Orlando Magic and the Atlanta Hawks. The two teams are actually going to play each other in the play-in tournament on Tuesday night back in Orlando, but will see each other this afternoon. The big question hovering around both teams are about who will and who won't play. Due to this game not impacting the standings, it is likely the top players on each team will rest today in hopes of being ready for Tuesday's big game.
Our own Rohan Raman gave an in-depth preview of today's game:
"Coming into tonight's game, the Hawks are 5th in the NBA in PPG, 14th in FG%, 15th in 3PA, 18th in 3P%, 2nd in FTA, 26th in turnovers, and 14th in rebounding. Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 14th in points per 100 possessions, 15th in effective field goal percentage, 22nd in turnover percentage, 11th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 7th in free throw rate.
Currently, the Hawks rank 27th in PPG allowed, 28th in field goal percentage allowed, 16th in three-point attempts allowed, and 28th in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 19th in points allowed per 100 possessions and 28th in effective field goal percentage allowed.
Although it didn't show up in their last game against the Hawks, the absence of Jalen Suggs has further comprised the spacing of Orlando's offense. They're 28th in points per game, 27th in FG%, 22nd in 3PA, 30th in 3P%, 5th in FTA, 16th in turnovers, and 27th in rebounding. Per Cleaning the Glass, Orlando is 26th in points per 100 possessions, 29th in effective field goal percentage, 20th in turnover percentage, 13th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 2nd in free throw rate.
The Magic have an excellent defense to fall back on when their offense is struggling. They are 1st in PPG allowed, 15th in field goal percentage allowed, 1st in three-point attempts allowed, and 20th in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, Orlando is 2nd in points allowed per 100 possessions and 10th in effective field goal percentage allowed.
One player who could get a lot of run in today's game is forward Mo Gueye. Gueye has been a starter for the Hawks since Johnson's injury and he flashes high-level ability as a defender and rebounder. The consistency isn't there, but nights like his double-double against the Philadelphia 76ers are a glimpse into what he can give Atlanta. He scored 10 points and pulling in a career-high 18 rebounds. Gueye has also swung important games for the Hawks, the best example being hitting four threes against the Milwaukee Bucks to finish with 15 points and 11 rebounds in a upset win for Atlanta. Gueye has been thrust into a bigger role than planned, but he is managing it well and should be critical in the Orlando matchup. His size and defensive ability is helpful against big wings like Banchero in spurts and he gives the Hawks some ability to rest Onyeka Okongwu.
Even though most of Atlanta's usual starting lineup has been designated as questionable for this matchup, Zaccharie Risacher appears ready to play in some capacity during today's game. This could be a nice confidence builder for the rookie heading into the biggest game of his young career. Risacher has been up and down at times this season, but he's certainly on a upswing. Since the All-Star Break, the French wing has averaged 14.9 points and 4.1 rebounds on 50/40.4/71% shooting splits. That 40.4% mark from deep is on 5.4 attempts per game, so it is a fairly healthy sample size. He still isn't the most consistent player and he benefits greatly from having Trae Young's gravity to work off of, but he'll get a chance to take a more active role in the offense today. Even though it'll likely be for only a few minutes, that type of experience can only help him and gives Hawks fans a somewhat rare look into Risacher's full skillset as a rookie.
It goes without saying that the Hawks are going to give a heavy dosage of minutes towards Keaton Wallace, Dominick Barlow and Daeqwon Plowden. While this is only one game and none of these players are going to be contributors in any postseason setting, it is still another evaluation opportunity for the Hawks ahead of the offseason."
Odds
According to Fanduel Sportsbook, the Hawks are 1.5 point favorites against the Magic tonight and the total is set at 220.5.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Prediction
This game feels impossible to predict, but both teams role players have done a good job in situations like today. Earlier this season, Keaton Wallace and Daeqwon Plowdon had huge games to help the Hawks beat a healthy Bulls team. Both guys will need to have nice games today if Atlanta wants to end their season with a win, which would be their 40th of the year. I think they get it and then turn their attention to the biggest game of the season on Tuesday night.
Final Score: Hawks 110, Magic 106
Additional Links
Three Biggest Takeaways From Atlanta's 124-110 Win Over Philadelphia
Atlanta Hawks Clinch No. 8 Spot in The Eastern Conference With 124-110 Victory Over Philadelphia
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TODAY'S BEST
Veteran Center Rejected Knicks Offer
The New York Knicks imagine themselves as a championship contender, and those dreams looked like they may be rapidly approaching reality in last season's run to the Eastern Conference Finals. They've spent much of this offseason patching holes in their roster, requiring significantly more firepower from their bench to scare their opponents with a well-rounded rotation that they lacked in 2024-25. They're not looking to burst at the seams with reserve bucket-getters, but have done plenty to consolidate their backup guards and bigs with a summer of moves that's still continuing. Though their most recent on-court developments have provided the Knicks' hopes with real wind behind their sails, those wishes to bolster the frontcourt aren't new. New York reportedly tried to woo a veteran center in Daniel Theis over to last season's situation, but failed to seal the deal. Theis, now playing for AS Monaco, could have joined the Knicks mid-season last year before opting for a European return, according to BasketNews.com. He spent the first leg of the 2024-25 campaign with the New Orleans Pelicans, the sixth team that the 33-year-old's suited up for in the last five seasons. New York's offer gave Theis yet another chance to fill in as a role-playing big on another contender, but he chose to bet on himself. "I could have gone to the Knicks, for example, but it was more for insurance that Mitchell Robinson came back from a long injury," Theis said on a recent Euro Insiders podcast. "And then I talked to Tom Thibodeau and he said, 'Yeah, you will be like insurance in case he can't play and this and that.' It's like what I did with P.J. Tucker. "For me, it was like, 'Okay, if I sit for the rest of the year, what are my chances in the summer?' So if I’m like, 'Okay, I go overseas to Europe and play great, I might have a better chance.' That was my whole intention and thought behind it — just consider Europe and see what it is." Robinson did indeed manage to remain healthy when it counted, seeing the floor in all 18 Knicks playoff games after playing in just 17 during the regular season. His reliability as a defender and rebounder up front would have negated Theis' presence, as he would have spent all but a few garbage time minutes occupying the same seat on the bench that Tucker took in the postseason. Though he would've likely been constrained to a minimum contract that would've expired at season's end alongside other role playing veterans like Landry Shamet, Cameron Payne and Precious Achiuwa, he'd have been a little more playable than some other deep-cut Knicks as a rim-rolling center, and that's the sort of job that New York's looked to fill in the months since. Theis chose his path, and the Knicks stayed young in building a roster that's expected to blow every other 21st century Knicks team out of the water.
Browns' Shedeur Sanders could be losing valuable opportunity after injury update
Just when it seemed everything was going right for Shedeur Sanders, the Cleveland Browns' rookie quarterback caught an unlucky break on Wednesday. The 23-year-old QB was sidelined during Wednesday's joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles after suffering an oblique injury. Per Kelsey Russo of the team website, the 2025 fifth-round pick won't practice Thursday and is considered day-to-day. He is deemed unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason game against Philadelphia, scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Before Wednesday's practice, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed rookie QB Dillon Gabriel will start against Philadelphia as long as he's healthy enough to play. The 2025 third-rounder missed Cleveland's preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers because of a hamstring issue. However, Stefanski previously said Sanders would get more reps this week after a solid preseason debut. The former Colorado Buffaloes star received the start in the 30-10 win over Carolina, going 14-of-23 passing for 138 yards and two touchdown passes. Not playing against Philadelphia could disrupt Sanders' momentum. More importantly, it may eliminate another opportunity for him to overtake Gabriel in Cleveland's four-way QB competition. Sanders is listed as the Browns QB4 behind Gabriel, Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco on the team's unofficial depth chart. Despite questions about Gabriel's size (5-foot-11, 205 pounds), the coaching staff seems to favor him over Sanders. Earlier this offseason, Gabriel's processing speed reportedly impressed Browns coaches, giving him an edge over Sanders. The former Oregon Ducks star also received reps with the first-team offense during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, while his fellow rookie didn't. If Gabriel plays well against the Eagles, that would continue to affirm the coaching staff's confidence in the 24-year-old QB. Neither Sanders nor Gabriel is expected to be the Week 1 starter for the Browns. It's likely going to be Flacco, who helped Cleveland make the playoffs in 2023 when he went 4-1 during a late-season stretch. Still, another solid preseason showing could help Sanders position himself to replace 40-year-old Flacco in the future. With the setback, it may take more time to climb the depth chart.
Oregon suspends former five-star WR recruit indefinitely
Oregon wide receiver Jurrion Dickey has struggled to live up to expectations in his first two seasons with the Ducks, and he is now in a terrible position heading into 2025 as well. Dickey has been suspended indefinitely by Oregon, head coach Dan Lanning announced on Tuesday. Lanning also suggested that Dickey may not play for the Ducks again. "We have two team rules; that’s respectful, be on time,” Lanning said, via James Crepea of The Oregonian. “There’s some pieces of that where I felt like he needed a break from us and we needed a break from that so we could focus on what’s in front of us right now. "Wishing him nothing but the best, as far as success and want to see him get back to where he can be a contributor somewhere; that might be here that might be somewhere else.” Dickey was a five-star recruit and rated as one of the top wide receivers in the country when he came out of Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, California, in 2023. He suffered an injury in his senior year in high school and redshirted as a freshman at Oregon. Dickey has two catches for 14 years during his time with the Ducks. Oregon went 13-1 in Lanning's third season with the program last season. The Ducks lost to eventual national champion Ohio State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Raiders Camp Report No. 15: Rookie Rising, New Position Battles Emerge
HENDERSON, Nev.—Pete Carroll, a future member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame, has brought his passionate approach and emphasis on competition to the Las Vegas Raiders, and it's already yielding positive results. In our latest episode of the Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast, we take you inside today's training camp practice to discuss several intriguing developments, including one rookie who is excelling in his bid to secure a spot on the 53-man roster. You can watch the entire podcast below: When Lonnie Johnson suffered a serious injury, many wondered what John Spytek and Pete Carroll would do next. The addition of Terrell Edmunds proved to be a smart move, bringing in a seasoned veteran. After practice, Edmunds addressed several questions, and below is a partial transcript of his responses. Safety Terrell Edmunds Q: How did this opportunity come up? And what were your first thoughts when you found out? Terrell Edmunds: "My first thoughts when the opportunity presented itself, I was just excited. Excited to come and join a new team, excited to come and join these guys. I saw how much they were grinding. I watched the game before I even came out here. And then, just excited to come out here." Q: What was your evaluation of the defense watching the game? Edmunds: "It was pretty good. Everybody has your hiccups right now, ups and downs of just early preseason, just getting everything in order. You have a lot of new faces on the team, new coaching scheme. So now it's just like, let's all come together. Let's figure out what we can do to make us the best squad we can be." Q: How would you describe your skill set and how you fit into the mold here with Patrick Graham's defense? Edmunds: "Honestly, just coming in and just trying to be a sponge, trying to learn as much as I can. Come down wherever they want me to play, if they want to play dime, if they want to play any safety position. Wherever they want me to go, just go out there and help out the best way I can." Q: Are you absorbing the new playbook? How similar is it to stuff you've done in the past? Edmunds: "Every playbook has some similarities, but you just got to come out here and just learn exactly what they want you to do. Just come out here, first get the respect of your teammates, then get respect to your coaches, and then go out there and play fast." Q: How do you go about doing that? I know there's some catch up going on right now. A lot of these guys have been in the building since April. So, for you coming in here the way you have, how do you go about your time? Edmunds: "Just be coachable, number one. Don't be afraid to ask the question. Don't be afraid to ask a teammate when you're out there with them. I just go out there and just give everything you got, just come in here try to be a study right you can say, just stay in the building. Nothing for me to do at the hotel anyway. So, stay in the building and just learn as much as I can and come help out whenever they put me in." Q: You're a veteran, you've been around a long time. Can you talk about the culture Pete Carroll, it's pretty unique. Edmunds: "It is unique. I played for some historic coaches, and he's just another one on the list, and now his culture that I'm involved in now, that's a little bit different. But he's just excited. He's high energy guy in meeting rooms, at practice you see him running up and down. You see him with the competition today, I had a competition. We had a tip ball drill at the end. I lost, but just the competition factor, just make sure everybody ready to come compete every day." Q: Pete Carroll being a former DB coach himself. What has he said to you about what he wants to see from you on this team? Edmunds: "He just said he wanted to see high energy right now. High energy, see how well I can pick up the playbook. Just play fast, just go out there and play free and just go out there and help out the team." We'd appreciate it if you would follow us on X @HondoCarpenter and IG @HondoSr , and let’s talk about the Silver and Black’s training camp and Terrell Edmunds’ comments.
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