Hawks Soar Past Magic in Crucial Playoff Positioning Battle

Atlanta looks to widen gap over Orlando with road win

Apr. 1, 2026 at 4:29pm

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The Atlanta Hawks (43-33) hit the road to take on the Orlando Magic (40-35) in a crucial matchup with major playoff implications. The Hawks have surged up the standings with a 16-2 record in their last 18 games, while the Magic have struggled to string wins together lately. Atlanta looks to widen their 2.5 game lead over Orlando for the 5th seed in the East.

Why it matters

This game has major playoff positioning ramifications, as the 5th-place Hawks are only 2.5 games ahead of the 8th-place Magic, with the Heat and Hornets both 0.5 games back of Orlando. A win for Atlanta would further solidify their hold on a top-6 seed and avoid the play-in tournament, while a Magic victory would tighten the race for the final playoff spots.

The details

The Hawks are coming off a dominant 124-112 win over the Magic just two weeks ago, building a 29-point lead before coasting to victory. Nickeil Alexander-Walker erupted for a career-high 41 points in that game, but Atlanta's stifling defense and three-point shooting proved too much for Orlando. The Magic will be on the second night of a back-to-back, potentially dealing with tired legs and a short bench. The Hawks, meanwhile, are fully healthy outside of a questionable status for Jock Landale due to illness.

  • The Hawks and Magic met just two weeks ago on March 17, 2026.
  • This game is scheduled for Monday, April 1, 2026.

The players

Nickeil Alexander-Walker

A scoring guard for the Magic who had a career-high 41 points in the previous matchup against the Hawks.

Paolo Banchero

The Magic's leading scorer and a key part of their playoff push, though he has struggled with efficiency this season.

Jalen Johnson

A versatile forward for the Hawks who is part of their elite defensive unit alongside Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu.

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What they’re saying

“We have to be ready for their three-point shooting and lock in on defense. That's the only way we're going to slow them down and get this win at home.”

— Paolo Banchero, Magic Forward

“This is a huge game for us. We've worked hard to climb up the standings and we can't afford to let up now. We're going to bring that same intensity and focus that's gotten us here.”

— Jalen Johnson, Hawks Forward

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a big step towards securing a top-6 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, avoiding the play-in tournament. The loser will be left looking over their shoulder at the Heat and Hornets, who are both within a game of the final play-in spot.

The takeaway

This matchup between the surging Hawks and the struggling Magic has major implications for the Eastern Conference playoff race. Atlanta's three-point shooting and stifling defense pose a tough challenge for an Orlando team dealing with injuries and fatigue on the second night of a back-to-back. The winner will gain valuable ground in the standings with just a handful of games remaining.