The Atlanta Hawks (43-33) and Orlando Magic (40-35) will square off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from the Kia Center in Orlando, Fla. The game will broadcast live on FDSSE.
The Hawks are 4-point favorites over the Magic on the spread (Hawks -4), with the over/under set at 232.5 total points. Atlanta is a -170 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Orlando is +145 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Hawks vs. Magic predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, April 1.
Hawks vs Magic Prediction, Pick
- Hawks vs Magic pick: Hawks -4 (-110)
My Magic vs. Hawks best bet is on Atlanta to cover the spread. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Hawks vs Magic Odds
| Hawks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4 -110 | 232.5 -110o / -110u | -170 |
| Magic Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4 -110 | 232.5 -110o / -110u | +145 |
Hawks vs Magic NBA Preview
Two teams in the thick of the battle to avoid the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament square off tonight, as the Magic try to dig their way out of the deep hole that they dug for themselves, while the Hawks try to continue their magical late-season run.
Can the Magic, on a back-to-back, beat the Hawks for the first time this season? Or will Atlanta keep soaring towards a potential 5-seed?
I whiffed on the Magic yesterday, so be advised. I said it was a game where Orlando might turn the corner, and sure enough, they did. However, I am once again fading the Magic.
Some trends, good and bad:
- Orlando has been good on back-to-backs this season at 8-4 ATS, while the Hawks are 7-6 ATS against teams on back-to-backs.
- The Hawks are also 7-6 ATS as road favorites; the Magic are 5-3 as home underdogs.
- The Magic are 10-5 under Jamahl Mosley as home 'dogs on a back-to-back — although, they are only 3-2 this season.
- Teams are 29-44-1 ATS after playing Phoenix (Orlando).
- Orlando is a disastrous 15-24 ATS after a win this season.
- Home 'dogs that are down 3-0 in the season series to a division opponent are 128-152-6 (46%) ATS since 2003.
If the full season numbers suggested the Magic were the better team and just having a bad stretch, while the Hawks were playing their best basketball — then, maybe I’d be able to get on board with the Magic. However, that is not the case.
While it’s true that the Hawks have been an absolute rocket ship since the All-Star Break (and weren’t very good prior to it), they weren’t that far off from Orlando.
Now, the Hawks have molded themselves into a serious team, while the Magic have continued to languish and play pretty awful (yesterday's win aside).
This has the makings of a fairly ugly contest with many missed jumpers.
The Magic prevent three-pointers at a high rate, but Atlanta generates them at a high rate like Phoenix (I was banking on the Suns winning the math game yesterday, and they went 14-of-46 from 3-point range. That’s just how it goes sometimes).
Hawks vs Magic Predictions, Betting Analysis
The Magic struggle to defend the rim, but the Hawks aren’t good scoring there — and their new identity is five-out with Onyeka Okongwu.
Orlando will focus on the spot-up attempts of Atlanta, which is the majority of their offense, but the Magic are also a little weaker against on-ball actions.
Don’t be surprised if Dyson Daniels has a strong game, as he’s played much better since the All-Star Break.
Offensively, this is going to be a lot of transition from both teams, with both squads ranked top-10 in points per game in transition. Orlando is bottom-10 in transition defense, while the Hawks are 13th.
The Magic will get to the free throw line against the Hawks, but it’s hard to sustain offense on that.
I’ll trust Atlanta to sweep the season series and move closer to punching its playoff ticket. I’m just not ready to believe the Magic have turned a corner yet.
Pick: Hawks -4 (-110)
