Hawks Beat Magic Despite Big Nights from Wagner, Banchero

Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero combined for 68 points, but the Orlando Magic couldn't overcome the Atlanta Hawks' balanced attack in a 112-106 loss Monday night at the Kia Center.

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) controls the ball from Atlanta Hawks guard Vit Krejci (27) in the second quarter at Kia Center. | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

ORLANDO, Fla. — Sometimes, the NBA is about relying on your stars to do the heavy lifting.

Monday night against the Atlanta Hawks, the Orlando Magic got 68 points from Franz Wagner (season-high 37) and Paolo Banchero (31) — surpassing 30 points each in the same game for the third time in their careers.

"Those two are unbelievable, to be honest with you," Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young said. "Both of them are All-Star level players ... They are a problem. When you play them, you are always worried about them, and they are definitely at the top of their team's scouting reports. They are really good players."

Yet their efforts weren't enough. While Banchero and Wagner were the only Magic players to score in double figures, the Hawks' balance beat the Magic 112-106.

Young got hot when it mattered most, scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter to finish with a team-high 19 points. New acquisition Caris LeVert scored 18 points off the bench and all 10 Hawks who played scored at least eight points.

Orlando, 26-29, fell to ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. Atlanta's win in the first of four meetings between the division foes helped the Hawks leapfrog the Magic in the standings.

The Magic haven't won consecutive games since Christmas, but they had their chance.

Tied at 99-all with six minutes to play, Atlanta closed the game on a 13-7 run.

"It reminds me a little bit of the last Miami [Heat] game," Wagner said. "I thought we struggled to get a good look at the end of the game, and then I think we had too many stretches throughout the game where we didn't have the right urgency as a group.

"We as players out there, we feel what's going on in a game, and at the end of the day, we have the responsibility to execute."

Orlando shot 47.4 percent from the field and 12-of-30 from three, but only 26 of the Magic's shot attempts were taken by players not named Wagner or Banchero.

"I think me and him being the two guys ... 29 attempts [for Wagner] and 22 attempts, and the next highest is six attempts [Anthony Black], so you could say maybe we could get more guys involved," said Banchero, who scored 20 of his 31 points in the third quarter. "We've got to figure out ways that we can do that."

There were 14 lead changes and 12 ties. Points in the paint (46 for Orlando, 44 for Atlanta), second-chance points (9-10), rebounds (36-39) and free throws (Orlando 20-of-24, Hawks 24-of-28) were virtually even. Both teams surrendered 20 points off of turnovers.

The biggest discrepancy? Atlanta's 54 bench points trumped Orlando's 25 — another reflection of the Hawks' scoring balance and the Magic's two-star attack.

"I think the underlying thing with that is that those guys were kind of unusually connected to one another during the course of the game," Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. "That connectivity has a way of raising everybody's level. You saw it late."

Up Next

The Magic host the Charlotte Hornets in the final game before the All-Star break on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. ET. Full Schedule

Related Stories on the Orlando Magic

• LATEST MAGIC NOTEBOOK: Banchero's Seattle connection with Spurs coach, Jamahl Mosley makes history, and more. CLICK HERE
• FRANZ IS MAGIC'S 'ULTIMATE COMPETITOR': Franz Wagner's undeniable stardom has carried its weight in gold. CLICK HERE
• MOE'S PRESENCE 'WAS HUGE': Back on the Magic bench for the first time since tearing his ACL, Moe Wagner's presence alone "was huge" for Orlando's win over the Spurs. CLICK HERE
• MAGIC'S MONTH AT HOME COMES AT RIGHT TIME: The key to capitalizing on 10 home games in the next month? "Embracing each moment." CLICK HERE

Want more Orlando Magic coverage on Sports Illustrated?

Follow 'Orlando Magic on SI' on Facebook and like our page. Follow Magic beat reporter Mason Williams on Twitter/X @mvsonwilliams. Also, bookmark our homepage so you never miss a story.