Cole Anthony delivered a breakout performance off the bench, pouring in points and six assists to propel the Orlando Magic to a commanding 120-9 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Play-In Tournament. With this win, the Magic secured the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed and will face the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.
Orlando’s balanced attack featured Paolo Banchero nearly posting a triple-double with points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, while Wendell Carter Jr. added points and seven boards. Anthony Black also contributed points on near-perfect shooting, giving the Magic a crucial spark in their first-ever play-in appearance.
The Hawks, led by Trae Young’s points and six assists, struggled to keep pace. Young’s night ended abruptly after two technical fouls and an automatic ejection late in the fourth quarter. Despite a late third-quarter surge that cut the deficit to three, Atlanta couldn’t overcome Orlando’s defensive intensity and depth. Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu were held in check, while the Hawks managed just two points in the final six minutes of the opening quarter.
With the Magic advancing, the Hawks will get one more chance to make the playoffs, hosting the winner of the Bulls-Heat matchup for the eighth seed. Meanwhile, Orlando’s young core, including Jonathan Isaac and Jalen Suggs (whose injury status remains a storyline), prepares for a high-stakes showdown in Boston.
For fans wondering where to watch, tickets for the Magic’s first-round series go on sale Wednesday, and the games will be broadcast nationally as Orlando looks to extend their postseason run.
