Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks (April 1, 2026): 3 Things to Watch, Odds and Prediction

• How To Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Florida (Orlando); FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (Atlanta); NBA League Pass (National)
• STREAM MAGIC-HAWKS ON FUBO TV
• How to Listen: WYGM 96.9 FM (Orlando); 740AM (Orlando); 92.9 The Game (Atlanta); Sirius XM Channel 145 (Magic); NBA Audio League Pass (National)
• FOLLOW LIVE: @OMAGICDAILY
• Tickets: $18-$261+ on StubHub
• Season Series: Hawks 111, Magic 107 in Orlando on Oct. 24; Hawks 127, Magic 112 in Atlanta on Nov. 4; Hawks 124, Magic 112 in Atlanta on March 16; Tonight in Orlando

Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks: Stats and 3 Keys to Watch

1. Franz's return

Franz Wagner appears set to return after missing every game since the All-Star break and 47 of the last 51 games with a high ankle sprain and complications in recovering from it. It is a huge relief as the Magic finally can feel closer to whole.

This first game will be a bit rough, though. Wagner is expected to be on a minute restriction -- probably similar to the four games he returned for -- and no one should expect him to take over the game, whether he starts or comes off the bench.

Wagner is averaging 21.3 points per game this season and posting 47.9/36.5/82.8 shooting splits. The Magic have a +1.7 net rating with Wagner on the floor, including a 114.0 offensive rating and 112.3 defensive rating. The Magic had a +2.7 net rating with Wagner on the floor before his injury (114.2/111.4).

In the four games Wagner played since the initial injury, Wagner averaged 12.8 points per game and shot 39.1 percent from the floor in 22.8 minutes per game. He returned in Berlin to score 18 points on 6-for-16 shooting, making several big shots down the stretch to clinch the win. In his return game against the Milwaukee Bucks, he had 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting.

There will certainly be an initial boost in energy from Wagner's return whenever he steps on the court. The question is whether it will be effective enough for the Magic to ride that energy to a win.

2. Self-Inflicted Wounds

The Orlando Magic have struggled with turnovers a ton in the last two games. The turnovers were a big part of that 31-0 run -- 12 of them in that run -- against the Toronto Raptors. They committed 25 turnovers for 18 Phoenix Suns points in Tuesday's win.

The Magic are still 10th in the league in turnover rate at 13.8 percent. They are at 14.7 percent in the last 15 games.

That is bleeding possessions for a team that needs to value the ball. Orlando has fallen from a season average of 16.8 points allowed off turnovers per game to 18.7 points allowed off turnovers per game in the last 15 games.

The Atlanta Hawks are feasting on turnovers with their defensive upturn and now improved offensive flow and spacing.

The Hawks average a league-leading 24.9 points off turnvoers per game in the last 15 games and force a 17.4 percent turnover rate.

This is the key to the game. The Magic cannot turn the ball over excessively as they have been. The Hawks will put the Magic under a lot of pressure.

3. The Jalen Suggs ups and downs

That is going to put a lot of the pressure on Jalen Suggs. He is the point guard and has a lot of control and direction over the offense. And he has at times been the maniac defensively and an improved playmaker that makes a huge difference.

At other times, he has been throwing the ball around, making bad decisions and turning the ball over. They both happen often within the same game.

Suggs scored 20 points and was +15 in Tuesday's game with seven assists. But he also had six turnovers. There were a lot of bad ones in there.

In the Magic's last nine games, Suggs is averaging 12.3 points per game, 4.9 assists per game and 3.3 turnovers per game with 43.2 percent shooting and 31.7 percent from three. He has been wildly up and down.

But in the Magic's last nine games, they have a -11.6 net rating (109.8 offensive rating/121.4 defensive rating) with Suggs on the floor. It is -8.9 with him off the floor.

Getting Suggs right is still one of the big questions for the Magic as they conclude the season. They can be a truly elite team when he is right. But consistency continues to elude him.

Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks: Injury Report & Projected Lineups

Atlanta Hawks Injury Report

• Jock Landale - QUESTIONABLE (Illness)
• RayJ Dennis - QUESTIONABLE (G-League Two-Way)
• Keshon Gilbert - QUESTIONABLE (G-League Two-Way)

Orlando Magic Injury Report

• Franz Wagner - QUESTIONABLE (Left High Ankle Sprain Injury Management)
• Anthony Black - OUT (Left Lateral Abdominal Strain)
• Jonathan Isaac - OUT (Left Knee Sprain)
• Colin Castleton - OUT (G-League Two-Way)
• Alex Morales - OUT (G-League Two-Way)

Projected Starting Lineups

Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks: Prediction

Our Record: 46-29/32-43 ATS

The Orlando Magic should get a shot in the arm with Franz Wagner's return to the lineup. Really in any capacity, it should be a releif for this team.

They will at some point get their opening night starting lineup on the floor together. They have a +14.0 net rating -- 120.1 offensive rating and 106.1 defensive rating -- in 126 minutes across 13 games. That simply is not enough time to conclude anything about the group. But it is promising.

The only issue is that they are going up against an Atlanta Hawks team that is rolling. Their starting lineup has a +22.5 net rating with a 124.7 offensive rating and 102.2 defensive rating. They have dominated the league since coming together after the Trae Young trade.

The Hawks have won 17 of 20 games to climb into control of the Southeast Division and out of the Play-In. They are one of the best stories in the league.

Maybe they are slowing down some. But you have to really squint. And while the Orlando Magic have gotten some momentary relief with the win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, it is still not certain if this team is back.

This is a gut check game. They put in a good defensive performance on Tuesday and looked more like themselves, even with their mistakes. They need another good performance to try to steal this win back and make a big step up in the race to avoid the Play-In -- or even get the 7-seed and host the 7/8 Play-In game.

Even playing well may not be enough against a very good Hawks team.