Hawks, NBA’s Worst Team ATS, Hope to Quell Poor Start vs Magic
Magic vs Hawks Game Odds: Atlanta Opens as 2.5-Point Favorite
On the heels of their surprising win over the New York Knicks, the Orlando Magic will look to make it two in a row when they visit the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET).
Orlando opened as 2.5-point underdog and +124 on the moneyline, with Atlanta priced -148 to win outright. The projected total is 236.5.
What should bettors expect? Read on as we break down both teams and analyze the Magic vs Hawks game odds.
Orlando Magic at Atlanta Hawks 
Day/Time:
Location: State Farm Arena; Atlanta
Betting Trends
The Orlando Magic are 26-14 ATS, including 13-9 away from home. Orlando is also 17-22-1 against the Over/Under, having gone Under the total in each of its last five games. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks are an NBA-worst 10-29 ATS, including 4-14 at home. Atlanta has gone Over the total in 23 of its 39 games.
Be sure to remember these trends when assessing the Magic vs Hawks game odds.
Magic Getting Healthier at Last
The Magic snapped their three-game losing streak with a 98-94 victory over the Knicks on Martin Luther King Day. Paolo Banchero scored 20 points, and Cole Anthony contributed 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter as the Magic, 5.5-point underdogs, improved to 22-18.
On the heels of his Rookie of the Year campaign, former No. 1 pick Banchero is averaging a team-high 22.8 points on 45.5% shooting to go with 7.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals.
The surprising win coincided with the return of Wendell Carter Jr., who chipped in 17 off the bench. Carter Jr. had missed the previous five games with right knee tendinitis. Along with Carter, Markelle Fultz, Joe Ingles and Jonathan Isaac were also all available after missing time recently because of NBA injuries.
Health has been among the biggest obstacles for the resurgent Magic, who have fallen to eighth in the Eastern Conference in recent weeks. Projected for just 37.5 wins this NBA regular season, the Magic have a very realistic chance at making the playoffs for the first time since the COVID bubble in 2020. Notably, Orlando’s 26 wins ATS match a league-high (Oklahoma City).
Oddsmakers are still skeptical of Orlando’s staying power, pricing it +6000 in the East and +15000 to win the NBA title.
Hawks Fading Fast
At 16-23, the Hawks have been among the biggest disappointments of the NBA’s first half. Even after beating San Antonio 109-99 on Martin Luther King Day, the Hawks are still just 4-8 over their last 12 games as their Eastern Conference playoff hopes continue to fade.
The rough start has fueled speculation that All-Star Trae Young, who’s averaging a team-high 27.5 points and 10.9 assists, could be moved at next month’s trade deadline. At the very least, Young, a two-time All-Star and one of the league’s premier shooters, and Atlanta Hawks seem headed for a divorce in the offseason.
Oddsmakers continue to fade the Hawks, dropping their odds of winning the East to +10000.
The Hawks have been especially poor from a betting perspective, turning in an NBA-worst 10-29 record ATS. They’ve failed to cover in 15 of their last 20 games and are just 4-14 ATS at home. At the same time, the Hawks, the league’s No. 4 scoring offense (121.3), have gone Over the total in 23 of their 39 games. Their rate of 59% matches the fourth-highest in the NBA. Keep that in mind when analyzing the Magic vs Hawks game odds.
Handicapping the Game
Orlando has already beaten Atlanta twice this season, 120-199 on Nov. 9 in Mexico City and 117-110 in overtime on Jan. 7 at Kia Center. The Hawks were favored both times and now find themselves on the right side of the betting line once more.
The Hawks have more star power thanks for Young and Dejounte Murray, but that’s about the only edge they own on Orlando at the moment. They’ve been one of the NBA’s worst teams, and there’s no sign of them turning it around anytime soon.
Orlando, on the other hand, appears to be getting healthier after dealing with a rash of injuries that slowed its resurgent start.
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