ATLANTA – Paolo Banchero delivered an impressive performance with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, leading the Orlando Magic to a comeback victory over the Atlanta Hawks with a score of 114-108 on Thursday night.
Franz Wagner contributed 25 points, while Cole Anthony added 17 for the Magic, propelling them to seventh place in the Eastern Conference, two spots ahead of the Hawks.
Banchero’s 36-point outing marked his 47th game where he scored at least 20 points while also recording five rebounds and five assists. This achievement places him third for the most such performances by a player before turning 23, following legends LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
For the Hawks, Trae Young was the standout scorer with 38 points, while rookie Zaccharie Risacher made a statement by notching his first double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Despite struggling with their shooting from beyond the arc—hitting just 6 of 25 attempts for 24%—the Magic managed to turn the game around. They faced an early 19-point deficit, with the Hawks leading 40-21 in the second quarter. However, Orlando outscored Atlanta 38-18 for the rest of the period to enter halftime with a one-point advantage, with Banchero scoring 18 points in that span.
Key Observations:
Magic: After shooting only 33% in the first quarter, the Magic found their rhythm in the second, posting a remarkable 71% shooting percentage.
Hawks: The defense struggled in the latter three quarters, a point of focus for Atlanta as they prepare for a stretch of nine out of their next 11 games at home.
Crucial Moment:
In the final three minutes, Anthony and Banchero hit consecutive 3-pointers, elevating the Magic to a 109-103 lead, which they managed to maintain through the end of the game.
Noteworthy Statistic:
Dyson Daniels recorded three steals, bringing his season total to 152. This figure exceeds the previous season’s leaders, De’Aaron Fox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who both had 150 steals, making Daniels the leader since the 2018-19 season. The Hawks are set to play 26 more games this season.
Next Games:
The Orlando Magic will begin a seven-game homestand on Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies, while the Atlanta Hawks are scheduled to host the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
