Eastern Conference Play-In: Magic’s dominant fourth grounds Hawk’s rally and advances them 120-95

Reserve guard Anthony Black assisted in Orlando’s first quarter push to grab a lead it would not relinquish tonight | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Orlando was stunned momentarily by Atlanta’s third quarter back but righted itself with a dominant fourth quarter

After an uneven start, the Orlando Magic bench, led by Cole Anthony and Anthony Black, erased an early Hawks advantage to go ahead as much as 22 in the first half and held on for the win in this 7/8 match-up. The Magic move on to take on defending champion Boston, while Atlanta faces a goes into playoff purgatory Friday night – taking on the winner of Chicago and Miami.

The Hawks were held to a miniscule 3-point shooting percentage for the whole game, and Orlando held a sizable advantage in field goal makes (44-32) and rebounding (54-42). Reserve guards Cole Anthony and Anthony Black were instrumental to Orlando’s second-half surge with their shooting, playmaking, and energy.

Orlando was paced by Wendell Carter (19 points and 7 rebounds) and Paolo Banchero (17 points and 9 rebounds). They received substantial bench contributions from Anthony (26 points and 5 assists) and Black (16 points and 4 assists), who led the final push in the fourth quarter to finish off the Hawks.

Atlanta’s Trae Young (28 points and 6 assists) – who else – led the way for his team and then was assessed two quick technicals for juvenile hijinx when the game was out of reach, while Georges Niang chipped in 15 points.

Atlanta wasted a fast 7-for-12 impressive start by hitting one field goal over the last seven minutes of the first quarter. While Banchero had a difficult time finding his touch, he shared very generously with his teammates, and the other rotation players were crucial in a closing 18-4 run to stun the Hawks. Black was a key part of that push, and Orlando left the first up 15.

Anthony (9 points) and Carter (10 points) took on Orlando’s responsibility in maintaining that considerable advantage in the second period. The Hawk’s 3-point shooting percentage stayed below 25% and they did not surpass the 30-point mark until more than halfway through the second. After Orlando pushed the lead out to 22, Atlanta steadied itself and closed within 14. That margin remained at the end of the half.

The Young that Orlando feared would materialize showed up in the third quarter to initiate a run to help draw Atlanta within 66-70. All manner of Magic shots fell harmlessly off the rim, and the energized Hawks ran at every opportunity and attacked the rim recklessly. Young’s shot chart would reveal he made shots from points all the blue Magic paint. The Hawks closed within three before Orlando’s bench guys (Anthony and Jonathan Isaac) helped push them back and close the third up 79-73.

Observations

The Hawks have the coolest roster names: Onyeka Okongwu, Mouhamed Gueye, Zaccharie Risacher, and my favorite R&B name – (Caris) Levert.
Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels looks like a far more athletic Kyle Anderson at both ends.
It seemed like Banchero was trying to force the action a little too much in the opening stanza – several drives led to awkward chucks along with a block and an airball.
There was a distinctive wail that made its way through the lower bowl during the stops in action.
Young spends an inordinate amount of gametime complaining about foul calls. Draymond Green would be jealous.
Orlando has former Nuggets Gary Harris and Kentavius Caldwell-Pope – two guards that I’ve liked a lot.
Wagner’s three-point motion is hitchier than Jeremy Sochan’s.
Sequence of the Game #1: Magic guard Anthony Black swatted away a Young attempt at one end midway through the first quarter and connected on his first three at the other end.
Sequence of the Game #2: Late in the opening half, Cory Joseph fed Banchero at the free throw line, and he shoveled a deft dime to Jonathan Isaac for a dunk. Moments later, Isaac dropped off a sweet bounce pass to Banchero for a lay-up.
Sequence of the Game #3: Orlando’s Carter hit a straightaway jumper and then completely erased Dominick Barlow’s rim-running dunk attempt to start the fourth quarter.

Game Rundown

Play-in extraordinaire Young stole an errant Magic pass and fed Onyeka Okongwu a gorgeous lob to start the evening. A transition lay-up by former Spur Cory Joseph put Orlando up for a moment. Okongwu, who I didn’t think had this type of range, hit a 26-footer to put the Hawks back up. A three by Caldwell-Pope and a five-point flurry by Black put the Magic up five. Atlanta went ice cold over the last handful of minutes – save for a (former Spur) Dominick Barlow bucket – and Orlando took advantage with a closing 18-4 run punctuated by a Harris three to go up 32-17.

When he wasn’t getting buckets of his own, Orlando’s Anthony deftly set-up his big men to help keep the pressure on the Hawks. Carter’s wing three pushed the Atlanta deficit back out to 17. Young (nor the other Hawks) could not connect from behind the arc throughout much of the opening half. Anthony’s three pushed the lead to 20. Atlanta showed signs of life with a late 6-0 run, including Young’s first three. Orlando went into the half up 61-47.

To start the third, Atlanta’s defense – particularly Daniels – met Orlando’s players further up in the halfcourt, and after some baskets were traded, Young kickstarted a run, wielding a dizzying array of floaters and Tony Parker-like runners. Atlanta’s aggression also drew the Magic into the foul bonus halfway through. Daniels was the beneficiary of two great Young feeds for scoring chances. For a number of minutes through the frame, Wagner’s and Banchero’s lay-ups were the only field goals that fended off the furious Hawks rally. Atlanta got to within three before Anthony paired two knifing lay-ups around an Isaac tip-slame. Orlando went to the fourth up six after Georges Niang put up five of his own.