ORLANDO, FL — April 15, 2025 — In front of a roaring home crowd at the Kia Center, the Orlando Magic punched their ticket to the NBA Playoffs in dominant fashion, dismantling the Atlanta Hawks 120-95 in the opening game of the SoFi 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament.
It was a night of firsts and fourths: the Magic’s first appearance in the play-in format, and the Hawks’ fourth straight. But from tip-off, Orlando played like seasoned postseason veterans, showcasing depth, resilience, and a defensive intensity that overwhelmed the visitors.
Orlando’s “next man up” mantra, forged through an injury-riddled regular season, was on full display. With star forward Paolo Banchero bottled up early by Atlanta’s lanky defender Mouhamed Gueye, it was the Magic’s second unit that delivered the early haymakers—and the knockout blows.
Cole Anthony Sparks the Fire
Leading the charge was Cole Anthony, who came off the bench with a vengeance. The fiery guard dropped 26 points on 10-of-17 shooting, including four triples, igniting the Magic’s offense and energizing the crowd.
“It meant a lot,” Anthony said postgame. “This was just an awesome game to be a part of. I was happy to be out there and do something to feel like I was contributing to the team. Great win. But this was a full team effort.”
And it truly was. Orlando had five players in double figures and received a whopping 25 first-half points from its bench compared to Atlanta’s 12.
Early Control and Late Dominance
The Magic wasted no time asserting control. After a tight start, their defense clamped down late in the first quarter, holding Atlanta to just 17 points and building a 15-point lead by the buzzer. Midway through the second, Orlando was still shooting 50% from the field, keeping the Hawks on their heels.
Despite a mini-rally from Atlanta early in the third—cutting the lead to just three—the Magic responded with poise. A retooled lineup featuring Anthony, Anthony Black, Gary Harris, and Franz Wagner stabilized the game. Wagner, who finished with a double-double (13 points, 13 rebounds), was key in the paint and on the glass.
The Hawks, led by a cold-shooting Trae Young (3-for-11 in the first half), briefly threatened, but could never sustain momentum. By the fourth quarter, Orlando’s depth and energy took over.
Outscoring Atlanta 41-22 in the final frame, the Magic closed with an exclamation point. Wendell Carter Jr. contributed 18 points and critical fourth-quarter plays, while Jonathan Isaac and Gary Harris provided timely defense and hustle.
Defensive Identity on Display
Perhaps most impressively, this marked the 20th time this season the Magic have held an opponent under 100 points. The Hawks, who made a late-season push to squeeze into the play-in as the eighth seed, were completely stifled in the second half. Orlando also out-rebounded Atlanta 54-42, imposing their physicality on both ends.
Paolo Banchero, the NBA’s eighth-leading scorer over the final stretch of the season, had a quiet but solid game with 17 points, while Franz Wagner added 13 and Carter had 18. Anthony Black chipped in 16, showing calm and control well beyond his years.
Up Next: The Real Dance Begins
With the win, the Magic officially clinch the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference and now prepare to face the No. 2 seed in what promises to be a gritty, physical first-round matchup.
But for now, the Magic—and their fans—can revel in a performance that was as loud and proud as the Kia Center crowd.
From depth to defense, Orlando showed the league they’re more than just a young team with promise. They’re a problem—and they’re coming to the playoffs with something to prove.
The next test, is the Boston Celtics, who seed to repeat as champions this season.
