Paolo's playmaking among keys for Magic against Jalen Johnson, Hawks

The Magic (3-4) just flipped a 4-game losing streak into a 2-game winning streak, riding high off wins in Charlotte and Washington.

The Hawks (3-4) just lost their franchise cornerstone for a month.

With Trae Young banged up with a knee injury, Atlanta needs Jalen Johnson to step up not just as a scorer, but as a creator; can Orlando contain that dual threat?

Will the Magic keep their defensive intensity rolling to overwhelm this undermanned Hawks team before returning home from a long road trip?

Here are three keys to a #MagicWin in Atlanta:

1. Contain Jalen Johnson's Scoring & Playmaking

Goga Bitadze contests Jalen Johnson — Oct 24, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) goes to the basket against Orlando Magic center/forward Goga Bitadze (35) during the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Atlanta isn't playing their best basketball on either side of the floor.

Now without Trae Young, the Hawks could lose one of the few edges their offense had in not turning the ball over (7th) and scoring efficiency. (16th)

Young's scoring and halfcourt shot creation kept this offense afloat.

With Jalen Johnson now the primary scoring option and lead halfcourt playmaker, the team's offensive engine scoring creator, Orlando will have all eyes focused on shutting down everything he does best.

Johnson is an underrated two-way force; Jalen's not just a big wing scorer and a high-feel playmaker, he's also a versatile defender.

This season, Jalen Johnson's leading the team in scoring at 21 PPG and rebounding at 9 RPG, averaging 5 AST / 2 TOV, and forcing 1.5 steals.

The Magic must contain Jalen Johnson as a scorer with single coverage without fouling or doubling; the goal is to make reads, passes, decisions, dribbles, and shots as difficult as possible for Atlanta's only star scoring creator available tonight.

How much usage will Atlanta increase for its backcourt depth of secondary playmakers? Nickeil Alexander-Walker does a little bit of everything, Luke Kennard is a catch-and-shoot sniper.

With the Hawks frontcourt otherwise full of play-finishers built to thrive off the creation of Trae Young, Atlanta will require a group effort for playmaking, which Head Coach Quin Snyder notes can be as much about off-ball movement like well-timed cuts and relocation threes as it is the ball-handler.

Quin Snyder will rely on the playmaking of the entire team, yet he also praises Jalen Johnson's development as a creator, which I asked him about before Orlando's first matchup with Atlanta this season:

“That’s an area where (Jalen Johnson) is really unique.

If you’re looking to identify Jalen’s strengths as an offensive player, it’s his ability to create for other people and his willingness to do that.”

- Quin Snyder

I asked Hawks HC Quin Snyder about Jalen Johnson’s development as a creator

“That’s an area where (Jalen) is really unique. If you’re looking to identify Jalen’s strengths as an offensive player, it’s his ability to create for other people and his willingness to do that.” pic.twitter.com/xUoWBuvvsO
— Ryan Kaminski NBA (@beyondtheRK) October 24, 2025

2. Paolo Banchero, the halfcourt shortroll playmaking hub

Banchero passes — Oct 27, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) passes the ball past Philadelphia 76ers forward Jabari Walker (33) during the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

In his first three games adjusting to the team's new pace, Paolo Banchero stumbled out of the gates, averaging just 1 assist to 2.7 turnovers per game.

In his last four games, Banchero's looked more comfortable in his halfcourt playmaking hub role, dishing out 6.3 assists to 2.5 turnovers per game.

This Magic offense is utilizing Banchero not just on the ball as a downhill ISO and backdown PostUp threat, but as a strong short-roll playmaker, creating looks consistently for himself and the team via rim-rolls, drives, foul-draws, and kick-outs to open shooters.

Orlando should continue to utilize Banchero's downhill playmaking on top of the reliable halfcourt creation of Franz Wagner with a strong screening big.

Seeing as Jalen Johnson will be expending a lot of energy on offense, asking him to be the primary defender guarding either of the Magic's big wing star matchups could drain him by the end of the game.

"So I think we're getting exactly what we want.

You know, 1st play of the game, I hit (Paolo) in the pocket, and he makes a play.

I think organizationally, we got some things to clean up, but late game, I think that's something we can definitely go to and thrive off of" - Bane https://t.co/u3Pzpgwgkt pic.twitter.com/sJmVmUurR5
— Ryan Kaminski NBA (@beyondtheRK) October 23, 2025

3. Orlando's active defense racking up deflections again

Magic defense forces deflection: Franz Wagner, Tristan da Silva — Oct 24, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward/center Onyeka Okongwu (17), Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) and forward Tristan da Silva (23) chase a loose ball during the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters-Imagn Images

After a sleepwalking start to the season, the Magic are back up to a league average defense – an improvement from the first few games.

Even better, Orlando ranks Top-18 in all defensive four factors, a promising indicator this defense will continue to trend back up to its elite status.

The Magic are forcing turnovers again, up to the 10th-best TOV% in the league. (15.9%) Their last two wins are highlighted by these hustle plays, forcing turnovers and scoring points off them.

In Charlotte, 18 deflections and 19 points off turnovers led the way.

With Atlanta's heliocentric point guard and offensive hub out of the picture tonight, Orlando's defense should crank up the intensity to force the Hawks secondary creators into tight windows and making mistakes.

The Magic racked up 18 Deflections in Charlotte, their most in any game this season.

Can the defense that ranked 6th & 7th in Deflections the last two years bounce back?

Jamahl Mosley's Magic Standard defense returns to form, for @HeatMagicOnSI:https://t.co/TBPhPBCClM
— Ryan Kaminski NBA (@beyondtheRK) October 31, 2025

Look out, world

This Orlando Magic lineup is running opponents off the floor with Net Ratings ranked

2nd among 16 lineups with 50+ MIN
3rd among 21 lineups with 40+ MIN
5th among 31 lineups with 30+ MIN

for @HeatMagicOnSI:https://t.co/fK8dtCaf5p
— Ryan Kaminski NBA (@beyondtheRK) November 3, 2025