Caleb Houstan Career Night Lifts Magic Past Hawks

Orlando Magic second-year pro Caleb Houstan played the best game of his career in the team's win Sunday against the Atlanta Hawks.

Jeremy Brener | Jan 7, 2024

Caleb Houstan Career Night Lifts Magic Past Hawks /

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Orlando Magic

ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic is still in the win column after a 117-110 overtime victory against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night inside the Kia Center.

The Magic led for the entire fourth quarter, but the Hawks scored on each of their last four possessions to push the game to overtime. Orlando had a chance to hit the game-winner, but it rattled out of the rim.

In overtime, Paolo Banchero scored the team's first six points and the Magic was able to build a lead that would last until the end of the game.

The Magic debuted a new starting lineup, which saw Caleb Houstan amongst the starters for the first time this season. Houstan joined Jalen Suggs, Chuma Okeke, Banchero and Goga Bitadze.

It was a banner night for Houstan, who scored a career-high 25 points on 7 of 14 shooting from beyond the 3-point line in the win.

Caleb Houstan Magic — Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Banchero also dazzled, dropping a team-high 35. Suggs added 16 with four triples of his own, while Moe Wagner chipped in with 15 off the bench.

The Hawks were led by their backcourt. Trae Young scored a team-high 31 points while Dejounte Murray added 24.

Franz Wagner Praises 'True Professional' Caleb Houstan

Despite Orlando's ever-growing injury report, the Magic finds new ways to win and keep pace in a crowded Eastern Conference. This is only making the team stronger as it approaches the midway point in the regular season.

The Magic is back in action tomorrow night as the Minnesota Timberwolves come to town. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

Published Jan 7, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.