Atlanta Hawks vs Orlando Magic: Game Preview, Injury Report, Starting Lineups for Tonight's Matchup

Currently a top-five seed in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks can continue to solidify their position by beating a struggling Magic team.

Mar 16, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0) dribbles against Orlando Magic guard Jett Howard (13) during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Hawks are arriving to the playoff race with plenty of momentum. How long can they keep it going?

In order to answer that question, it's important to assess them against teams that are also in competition for a playoff spot in the middle tier of the Eastern Conference. Due to their strong form as of late, the Hawks are currently the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. However, they can't afford to get complacent now. The Raptors are only 0.5 games behind them, and the 76ers could make some ground up if the Hawks falter, pushing Atlanta into the play-in.

Therefore, each game counts extra down the stretch, especially when they're against an Eastern Conference opponent. The Magic haven't exactly been a powerhouse as of late, but the Hawks cannot overlook an opponent at this stage. They're 3-0 against Orlando in their last three games versus the Magic, so they just need to take care of business and hold onto their place in the standings.

By the Numbers

Mar 16, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) and Atlanta Hawks guard Gabe Vincent (4) fight for a loose ball on the floor during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

As they showed against the Celtics, the Hawks have one of the best offenses in the NBA. They are 6th in points, 13th in FG%, 6th in 3P%, 18th in FT%, 19th in rebounds (21st in OREB, 13th in DREB), 1st in assists, and 11th in turnovers per game. They're 14th in offensive rating this year.

The defense isn't quite as impressive as the offense has been, but it's still largely a competent unit. The Hawks are 18th in points allowed, 18th in FG% allowed, 17th in 3P% allowed, 24th in rebounds allowed, 5th in steals, and 18th in blocks. They're 11th in defensive rating this year.

Orlando's offense has struggled all year due to the inconsistencies in play from Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner's injuries. They are 16th in points, 20th in FG%, 26th in 3P%, 5th in FT%, 19th in rebounds (20th in OREB, 15th in DREB), 15th in assists, and 10th in turnovers per game. They're 18th in offensive rating this year.

The defense is solid, but they're not really an elite unit. The Magic are 18th in points allowed, 18th in FG% allowed, 17th in 3P% allowed, 24th in rebounds allowed, 5th in steals, and 18th in blocks. They're 11th in defensive rating this year.

Three Reasons The Hawks Can Win This Game

Mar 16, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) brings the ball up the floor against the Orlando Magic during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

When it comes to the debate between Jalen Johnson and Paolo Banchero, that debate has almost entirely been resolved in favor of Johnson. He still needs to show it in the postseason, but Johnson has completely outpaced the former No. 1 overall pick and shown that his style of play can fit around a team with higher potential. Many of the Magic's best teams have been defensive juggernauts with Paolo as the main scorer and facilitator. It didn't change the fact that he hasn't been able to figure out how to work off Franz Wagner, while Johnson and NAW have already formed a synergy in their first season playing together. This season, Banchero's defense and offensive effiency have plummeted, sparking discussion over whether the Magic should move on.

It's almost certain they would be better with Johnson than Banchero, since this Magic team is a mediocre passing team. They are 15th in assists, 14th in AST%, and 13th in AST/TO ratio. The ball gets stuck quite often in Orlando's offense, and they do not have the shooting to make up for it. Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs are decent shooters on paper with good track records, but they haven't been able to make up for the overall lack of good shooters on the roster.

Atlanta's ability to generate points in the fast break has been key to its success all year, and it should be a factor tonight. The Hawks are 2nd in fast break points due to the amount of athleticism they have on the roster. By comparison, the Magic are 12th in fast break points and 21st in fast break points conceded. This could be a tough game for Orlando if they're forced to keep up with a much more athletic Hawks lineup all night.

Three Reasons The Hawks Might Lose This Game

Mar 16, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) dribbles against Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

While it's been a tough season for Banchero, he does still draw contact at an absurdly high rate. He's in the 98th percentile among all wings for fouls drawn and that's something the Hawks need to be careful of. They are 14th in opponent FTA, so they are slightly above average at not fouling opponents. Even so, Orlando has been able to remain competitive in their past games against the Hawks due to getting a lot of opportunities at the charity stripe.

The Magic still have a pretty good perimeter defense - being 10th in opponent 3P% is a function of having a lot of talented defenders who work well together. Wagner and Black are both absent from the lineup tonight, but Suggs is one of the best guard defenders in the NBA and Tristan da Silva is a good two-way wing. It might be a quiet night for Dyson Daniels and NAW due to Orlando having multiple defenders to throw at them.

Giving up a hefty package of four first-round picks for Desmond Bane hasn't immediately translated into success like the Magic thought it would, but Bane himself has still shown flashes that are reminscient of how good he can be in a decent offensive environment. He is fresh off going toe-to-toe with Jalen Green and Devin Booker in a double OT game where he dropped 34 points on just 18 shots. Given that the Hawks haven't always been great at limiting opposing guards from getting hot, Bane could be in for a repeat performance against Atlanta tonight.

Injury Report

Atlanta Hawks - Jock Landale is questionable.

Orlando Magic - Franz Wagner, Anthony Black and Jonathan Isaac are likely out, but they are on a back-to-back and have not released their report yet.

How to Watch

Here is how you can watch tonight's game:

Tip-off time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Location: Kia Center, Orlando, FL

Where to Watch: FanDuel Sports Network

Projected Starting Lineups

Hawks

G - CJ McCollum

G - Nickeil Alexander-Walker

F - Dyson Daniels

F - Jalen Johnson

C - Onyeka Okongwu

Magic

G - Jalen Suggs

G - Desmond Bane

F - Tristan da Silva

F - Paolo Banchero

C - Wendell Carter Jr