On Wednesday, January 17, 2024, the State Farm Arena is set to host an NBA matchup between the Orlando Magic and the Atlanta Hawks, tipping off at 7:30 p.m. ET. The match will be the third time they face each other this season.
The Hawks enter the arena as the favored team. Atlanta has notably emerged victorious in 52.4 percent over the previous 21 games where they were favored to win. On the flip side, Orlando played as the underdog 28 times this season, tallying a record of 12 wins and 16 losses in those games.
The Hawks boast a potent offense, averaging 121.3 points per game and ranking fourth in the league, while the Magic’s points per game ranks 24th with 111.2 points this regular season. On the defensive side, the Magic excels with a 111.1 defensive rating and ranks third in the league, while the Hawks rank 27th with 119.6 throughout the season.
Players to watch out for
Some of Orlando’s noteworthy players are predicted to play key roles in the upcoming match. Forward Paolo Banchero showcased impressive averages for the season, with 22.8 points per game accompanied by 7.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists. Banchero boasts a shooting accuracy of 45.5 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Earlier this month, following the Magic’s victory against the Denver Nuggets, Magic’s head coach Jamahl Mosley praised Banchero’s performance, saying he is “beyond special.”
“I've seen a lot of special players in this league. He's one of them. He's not even scratched the surface of what he's capable of doing,” Mosley said.
Meanwhile, Orlando point guard Cole Anthony maintains averages of 13.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game this regular season. Anthony records a 44.1 percent shooting accuracy from the floor and 33.3 percent beyond the arc.
Turning to the Hawks, point guard Trae Young leads the charge with averages of 27.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 10.9 assists per game throughout the regular season. Young shoots at a 42.2 percent accuracy from the field and a 36.3 percent success rate from beyond the arc. He averaged 3.4 three-pointers per game, ranking him fourth in the league in this category.
Shooting guard Dejounte Murray tallies averages of 20.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game this season. The 27-year-old racks up 46.7 percent for field goals and 38.6 percent accuracy in three-pointer shots. Defensively, Murray averaged 1.3 steals and 0.3 blocks per game.
Injury update
Orlando will play without guard Gary Harris, who is out due to a calf strain during the loss to the Sacramento Kings on January 3, and small forward Franz Wagner sidelined due to an ankle injury sustained in the same game. The upcoming match against the Hawks will mark the seventh consecutive absence for both players. Harris has been known to be susceptible of soft tissue injuries in his lower body throughout his professional career.
Meanwhile, the Hawks will be missing forward Mouhamed Gueye, who has been sidelined since October 30 due to a back injury, and small forward De'Andre Hunter, who underwent a non-surgical procedure for his right knee soreness.
Atlanta will also play without guard Vit Krejci in the upcoming game, who is out for left shoulder dislocation, and shooting guard Wesley Matthews, who is currently sidelined due to a right calf strain. For Krejci, it will be his seventh straight absence from the team.