Magic's Stars Get Help From Supporting Cast in Vital Win over Hawks

The Orlando Magic evened their season series with the Atlanta Hawks, winning 114-108. The Magic have 25 regular-season games remaining to improve their standing in the Eastern Conference and secure one of the six guaranteed playoff berths.

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) reacts after making a three-point basket late in the game against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at State Farm Arena. / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

ATLANTA — With Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner providing more than half of the scoring, the Orlando Magic outlasted the Atlanta Hawks 114-108 and picked up a critical win over an Eastern Conference rival.

In this final third of the NBA regular season, the Magic have 25 more games to possibly secure one of the six guaranteed playoff berths. Orlando, 28-29, is in seventh place. Thursday night's Magic win evened the season series with their division rival and is a vital first step toward postseason security.

Ten days ago in Orlando, Banchero and Wagner accounted for 68 points against these same Hawks, but no other Magic players scored in double figures and Atlanta picked up a six-point win.

So, coming out of the week-long All-Star break, how would the Magic reverse their fortune on the first night of back-to-back games?

As Kentavious Caldwell-Pope predicted on Wednesday, "I think [those] guys have to do that again, for sure."

And Banchero and Wagner did their part. With 36 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, Banchero became the third player in franchise history to have two or more 35-10-5 games. Shaquille O'Neal (three times) and Tracy McGrady (16 times) are the others.

Paired with Wagner's 25-7-5 line, the two players each have had at least 25 points, five boards and five dimes in the same game three times — the most for any Orlando teammates in team history.

The difference on this night, however, was that the supporting cast stepped up with them.

"I think these guys being able to trust their teammates the right way because of the gravity that they hold is going to have to be something we continue to see," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said.

Cole Anthony, who briefly left mid-game with a stomach issue, scored 17 points, nine in the fourth quarter as Orlando staved off Atlanta in a chippy, physical battle.

"He does exactly what we've needed him to do," Mosley said. "He plays fearless basketball. [Opponents] are going to gravitate toward Paolo and Franz, so we need guys to step up in those moments, and Cole is not afraid of those big moments."

Wendell Carter Jr., reinserted in the starting lineup, dominated the glass with 15 rebounds and scored nine points.

"He was great," Banchero said of Carter. "Just being a force down there, finishing around the rim, rebounding, contesting shots at the rim. He changed a lot of shots down there, and I mean, he was huge."

Anthony Black contributed 10 points off the bench, and the Magic shot 48.2 percent from the field, improving to 21-1 in games where they shoot a better overall percentage than their opponent.

But so much of their offense was fueled by their defense Thursday night. Orlando scored 26 points in transition, converting nine Hawks turnovers into 14 points.

Atlanta's missed open looks helped, but the Magic defense also had 13 combined steals and blocks and held Atlanta to 39.4 percent from the field.

Shaking off a sluggish start, the Magic used their defense to erase a 19-point second-quarter deficit by halftime. Then, Orlando turned the game into a rock fight to earn a tight victory over a team they'll be quite familiar with in the standings the rest of the way.

"That's what got us back in it," Mosley said. "We sat down, got stops, got out and ran, and that was the biggest key. When you can trust your defense to allow you to get easy baskets, and that's what they did. They trusted the defense to bear down and get stops when we needed them."

"We get a lot of confidence in our offense from our defense," Anthony said. "The more we can turn it up on the defensive end, the more it will help our offense out."

It was the Magic's third comeback victory of at least 19 points, which is tied for the most in the NBA.

They did it without Jalen Suggs, who didn't travel with the team as he continues nursing a left quad contusion.

Up Next

The Magic host the Memphis Grizzlies at the Kia Center on Friday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. for the first of seven consecutive home games.

Related Stories on the Orlando Magic

• 5 STORYLINES TO WATCH IN MAGIC'S 2ND HALF: Things to monitor in the Magic's final 26-game sprint to the postseason. CLICK HERE
• SUGGS OUT: "I think it's so important that we get him back fully healthy where there is no nagging pain as we go through it,' said Jamahl Mosley of Suggs' quad injury. CLICK HERE
• 'FRESH AND REJUVENATED': Orlando's first practice back from the All-Star break was a spirited one. Will it spark a second-half turnaround? CLICK HERE
• NO POSITION TO RELAX: The Magic, with 26 games to go, "can't take any game for granted." CLICK HERE
• 'A DREAM COME TRUE': Ethan Thompson's two-way contract with the Orlando Magic was a long time coming. CLICK HERE
• ALL-STAR BREAK REPORT CARDS: Second semester midterms are in. Here's how the Magic's guards, forwards and centers are performing this season.

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.