Hawks Game 79: April 8, 2025
Atlanta Hawks at Orlando Magic
Final Score: ATL 112 – 119
The Atlanta Hawks fell to the Orlando Magic in a pivotal game to determine play-in seeding for next week’s postseason. Atlanta sits in the eighth seed, two games behind the Magic and just one game ahead of the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls.
The Hawks turned the ball over 18 times against Orlando, resulting in 20 points for the home squad. Despite the high turnover number, both teams scored just five fastbreak points. It was a gritty, slower-paced half-court game, which favored the Magic. Their third-ranked defense slowed down Atlanta’s high-paced offense.
This contest was close through most of the first half until Orlando went on a 13-4 run heading into halftime. They took a 66-57 lead at the break behind Paolo Banchero’s 21-point first-half. The Magic took 20 free throws in the first half but only cashed in 13, allowing the Hawks to stay within striking distance. However, Atlanta could not put together a long enough run to take back the small six-point lead it established early on. Each time the Hawks cut the deficit to a two or three-possession game, the Magic had an immediate answer.
Banchero finished with 33 points and 10 rebounds on 50% shooting, and Franz Wagner added 22 points (8-20 FG). Wendell Carter Jr. stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, nine boards, six steals, and three blocks.
Trae Young and Onyeka Okongwu led the way for Atlanta. The All-Star guard dropped a 28-point, 10-assist double-double, while Okongwu dominated from inside the paint and out. He totaled 30 points on a career-high 4-7 shooting from deep with 14 boards and three steals.
Game 80: April 10, 2024
Atlanta Hawks at Brooklyn Nets
Final Score: ATL 133 – BKN 109
The Hawks followed up a disappointing loss with a blowout victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. While Atlanta struggled to score in transition against Orlando, it had no such trouble in this game, putting up 32 fastbreak points. Despite the Nets splashing 22 threes, the Hawks turned them over 17 times and outscored them by a whopping 66-24 margin in the paint.
Atlanta never trailed, starting the game on a 20-4 run, and holding Brooklyn to just four points in the paint after the first quarter. The Hawks took a commanding 33-14 advantage into the second behind Zaccharie Risacher’s 13 points and never slowed down. They started the next frame on a 12-2 run, converting on their first 12 shots, to go up by 30. In the third quarter, Young threw Risacher a between-the-legs lob for an alley-oop slam, adding to the rookie sensation’s career night.
🥶 TRAE BIEN 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/CtiBmLggU9
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) April 11, 2025
The 2024 first overall pick led the way with a career-high 38 points on 15-20 shooting and 6-11 from deep. Young totaled 24 points and 12 dimes, while Okongwu added a strong 14 points and 15 boards.
Without Cam Johnson and D’Angelo Russell, Brooklyn struggled to generate consistent quality looks. Jalen Wilson made four threes in the second quarter, finishing with 20 points (6-10 3PT), and Tosan Evbuomwan scored 18.
Game 81: April 11, 2025
Atlanta Hawks at Philadelphia 76ers
Final Score: ATL 124 – PHI 110
Atlanta clinched the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with a win over the Philadelphia 76ers to kick off the weekend. As a result, the Magic and Hawks will battle in the first round of the play-in in Orlando on Tuesday, April 15.
Despite winning the contest by a comfortable margin, the first half was anything but comfortable for Atlanta. Philadelphia shot 10-21 from downtown to take a 66-60 lead at halftime. Marcus Bagley, who came into this game shooting 1-21 from deep this season, hit four of his five triples to lead the Sixers with 14 points. They scored 40 points in the second quarter, but Atlanta’s defense went to work in the second half.
The Hawks outscored Philadelphia 31-19 in the third frame and went on a massive 35-17 run to take control. Caris LeVert and Young led Atlanta’s attack offensively, while Mouhamed Gueye was a rebounding machine in the paint. After a poor defensive effort in the first 24 minutes, the visitors held the Sixers to just 2-14 from deep in the second half to pull away.
Young scored 23 points with five triples in just the second half, totaling 36 points and 111 dimes. Levert shot 12-15 from the field for a season-high 31 points, and Gueye grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds with 10 points and three steals.
Bagley finished with 20 points, while Adem Bona scored 18 on 8-9 shooting with three blocks. Jared Butler had 25 points and seven assists.
Game 82: April 13, 2025
Orlando Magic at Atlanta Hawks
Final Score: ORL 105 – ATL 117
The Hawks ended their regular season with a home victory over the Magic. Both teams rested most of their regular rotation contributors to avoid unnecessary injuries, so the reserves got a chance to play significant roles. Despite missing the NBA assist leader in Young, Atlanta recorded 32 assists. It also shot 7-40 from deep, led by Jacob Toppin’s five triples with 17 points.
Keaton Wallace, who appeared in 30 games for the Hawks this season, impressed with his first career triple-double- 15 points, 15 assists, 11 boards, and five steals. Terance Mann scored 19 points, and Daeqwon Plowden poured in 17.
Anthony Black led Orlando with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals, while Jett Howard dropped 16 points off the bench.
The season series between these two teams was dead even at two wins apiece. Three of the four battles were decided by seven points or fewer, adding to the excitement of Tuesday’s play-in battle.
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