Atlanta Hawks vs Orlando Magic Picks and Predictions April 13th 2025

Magic and Hawks Meet in Play-In Tournament Preview

With the Eastern Conference play-in tournament set to begin, the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks will face off in a prelude to their crucial matchup on Tuesday. Although Sunday’s game won’t affect seeding, it offers a chance for both teams to test strategies, rest key players, and fine-tune their approach.

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Orlando Surges into Play-In on a Hot Streak

The Magic (41-40) are one of the NBA’s hottest teams heading into the postseason, having won five straight games, including a 119-112 win over Atlanta just days ago. Paolo Banchero led the charge with 33 points in that contest, demonstrating his ability to rise in key moments.

Despite a season plagued by injuries—including losing Banchero for a long stretch to a torn oblique, sixth man Moritz Wagner to a torn ACL, and Jalen Suggs to a knee injury—Orlando has battled through adversity.

“This speaks to the character of this group… we were able to bounce back and find a way to play with a sense of joy and urgency and defensive focus,” said head coach Jamahl Mosley.

With mostly reserves on the court Friday, the Magic still rolled to a 129-115 win over the Pacers, tying a franchise record with 43 second-quarter points and shooting a season-high 57.6% from the field. It’s clear Orlando is building serious momentum heading into Tuesday.

Atlanta Leans on Offense, Experience

The Hawks (39-42), meanwhile, come in with confidence after winning three of their last four. Caris LeVert poured in 31 points and Trae Young added 36 in a comeback win over the Sixers on Friday. This will be Atlanta’s fourth straight year in the play-in tournament, having successfully advanced in 2022 and 2023.

Young, the NBA’s assist leader at 11.6 per game and the Hawks’ top scorer at 24.2 points per contest, has been key to Atlanta’s explosive offense, which ranks fifth in the league at 118.2 points per game. Meanwhile, Dyson Daniels has become a defensive star, leading the NBA with 229 total steals.

“That’s the beauty of being on a team — you’re not going to play well every night individually, and certain guys can pick each other up,” said head coach Quin Snyder. “I thought [Caris] took really good shots and defended well tonight.”

However, neither Young nor Daniels is expected to log significant minutes on Sunday, as both squads prioritize rest and strategy over the scoreboard.

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Clash of Styles Sets Up Intriguing Showdown

Sunday’s matchup is a classic battle of offense vs. defense. The Hawks bring firepower, but the Magic boast the NBA’s stingiest defense, giving up just 105.4 points per game. While Sunday is unlikely to reveal much with top players resting, it sets the stage for Tuesday’s winner-takes-all battle in Orlando.

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“You start preparing by watching past games — what we’ve done, what they’ve done, the adjustments that need to be made,” Mosley said. “The beauty of it and the blessing of it is being at home in front of our fans.”

With home-court advantage and a red-hot defense, Orlando could hold the edge in what’s expected to be a gritty, playoff-style contest.