The Atlanta Hawks closed their regular season with momentum, defeating the Orlando Magic 117-105 behind Keaton Wallace’s historic performance Sunday. The two-way guard became Atlanta’s first player on such a contract to record a triple-double, finishing with 15 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds.
Wallace’s all-around effort included five steals as the Hawks (40-42) secured the No. 8 seed and a Tuesday play-in rematch in Orlando.
Both teams rested most starters ahead of their crucial play-in clash. Terance Mann led Atlanta with 19 points off the bench, while Orlando’s Anthony Black posted 20 points and 10 rebounds in the loss that dropped the Magic to 41-41.
The Hawks seized control with a 13-0 first-half run, turning a 24-24 tie into a 37-24 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Atlanta’s defense held Orlando to 43.8% shooting while forcing 18 turnovers in the wire-to-wire victory.
While stars like Trae Young sat, Hawks rookie Zaccharie Risacher scored six points in nine minutes of action. The game also marked a defensive milestone for Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels, who secured the NBA steals title (229) despite not playing Sunday.
Tuesday’s play-in matchup presents a stark contrast in trajectories – Atlanta enters on a three-game win streak while Orlando looks to rebound from Sunday’s defeat. The winner earns a first-round date with East top seed Cleveland.
The Hawks now face a quick turnaround before their season-saving rematch in Orlando, where they’ll look to continue their late-season surge into the postseason.
