Atlanta Hawks vs Orlando Magic: Spread & Over/Under Predictions For Tonight's Play-In Game

For the third time in the last week, the Atlanta Hawks will face the Orlando Magic, but tonight's game will be the most consequential of the three. The winner of tonight's NBA Play-In Tournament game is going to clinch a playoff spot and set up a matchup with the defending NBA Champion Boston Celtics in the first round. Orlando and Atlanta are plenty familiar with each other and it will be interesting to see how the matchup plays out.

Atlanta has to limit their turnovers in this game tonight. Orlando is one of the best teams in the NBA at forcing turnovers, ranking 2nd in the league with a 16.9% turnover percentage. Atlanta, on the other hand, is near the bottom of the league in turnovers, ranking 22nd on offense with a 15.0% turnover percentage per Cleaning the Glass. In the first three games against Orlando this season, the Hawks averaged 14.3 turnovers per game, including games where they had 18 and one where they had 16. Orlando loves to create chaos with turnovers, and the Hawks have to limit that if they want to advance to the playoffs.

Without Jalen Suggs (their best perimeter defender), the Magic don't have a great guard option to defend Trae Young. He has scored 19 points, 38 points, and 28 points in his three games against the Magic this year, but the Hawks supporting cast has not always been there. For example, in the February 20th matchup against the Magic, Young scores 38 points, but no other player had more than 13. Zaccharie Risacher was 4-15 from the field, Onyeka Okongwu only had 11, and Dyson Daniels was 3-15 from the field. The bench unit of Caris LeVert, Terance Mann, and Georges Niang was ineffective as well. No matter what Young does, the supporting cast has to be better on Tuesday night.

This is a lot to put on a rookie, but given their injuries, the Hawks need a big game from Zaccharie Risacher on Tuesday. He has been ineffective in the first three matchups against Orlando, but his three-point shooting can change the game. Risacher is critical to Atlanta's three-point shooting and spacing, and unless Orlando has a horrific game on offense (always possible), Atlanta needs scoring and shooting from Risacher in this game if they want to advance to the playoffs.

Odds

According to Fanduel Sportsbook, the Magic are 5 point favorites against the Hawks tonight and the total is set at 216.5.

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

The Hawks are underdogs in this game for a reason. Of course the Jalen Johnson injury gets the most attention, but not having Larry Nance or Clint Capela to help deal with the size or Orlando is tough. The Magic's defense has been able to cause chaos and create turnovers against Atlanta and the Hawks have not been able to slow down Paolo Banchero in any of the three matchups he played in against Atlanta. The supporting cast for the Hawks is going to be key in this game, but I think Orlando has too many matchup advantages against the Hawks and I think it will be the Magic that go on to face the Celtics on Sunday.

Final Score; Magic 113, Hawks 107 (ORL -5 and Over)

Additional Links

Hawks vs Magic: Game Preview, Betting Odds, Injury Report, Projected Starting Lineups For Today's Game

Atlanta Hawks vs Orlando Magic: Official Injury Report For Tomorrow's NBA Play-In Tournament Game

2025 NBA Play-In Tournament: Three Most Important Players For Atlanta in Tomorrow's Matchup With Orlando