The Orlando Magic leaned heavily on their bench to take down the Atlanta Hawks and claim the seventh seed with a commanding 120-95 victory on April 16.
Atlanta Hawks Top Performers:
Trae Young 28 PTS | 6 AST | 1 STL | 40.4 FPS
Young got off to a slow start today but found some rhythm in the third quarter, sparking a run that helped his team claw back into the game. However, he cooled off again in the fourth as the team surrendered a huge run to the Magic. Still, he kept his scoring strong from the line—where he went 11-for-12—to finish with 28+ points for the third time in his last four outings. His playmaking was unusually quiet today, recording his lowest assist total in two months after dishing out double-digit assists in 11 of his previous 12 games. Despite that, his ability to consistently put up elite numbers for his position keeps him firmly in the top tier of fantasy guards.
Dyson Daniels 7 PTS | 12 REB | 7 AST | 35.9 FPS
Daniels had an uncharacteristically quiet night in the steals department, recording none for the first time in four months. However, he made up for it with his shot-blocking and has tallied at least two stocks in 18 of his last 19 games. Offensively, he’s also been cold lately, scoring 8 points or fewer in each of his last two games. Still, he consistently finds ways to stay productive, contributing with solid rebounding and playmaking—both of which were on display today. With his versatility, he should remain a highly valuable contributor against either the Heat or the Bulls.
Onyeka Okongwu 11 PTS | 9 REB | 3 AST | 29.3 FPS
Okongwu didn’t bring much beyond his typical output, with early foul trouble throwing off his rhythm. However, he has been a reliable presence at center position since taking over the starting role—consistently threatening double-doubles while making strong defensive impact, along with several high-scoring games. That said, with their season on the line, expect him to step up and deliver at least 35 fantasy points against either the Bulls or the Heat.
Mouhamed Gueye 12 PTS | 4 REB | 1 BLK | 25.8 FPS
Gueye saw an increased role today and made a significant impact to help his team get back into the game. He’s really not much of a threat in scoring but he can be a strong option for defensive stats. However, his output remains capped with his limited role.
Caris LeVert 7 PTS | 6 REB | 2 STL | 23.7 FPS
LeVert struggled badly in offense, but he remains a capable scorer who can contribute in other areas. He has also been productive against both the Bulls and the Heat this season.
Orlando Magic Top Performers:
Paolo Banchero 17 PTS | 9 REB | 7 AST | 41.3 FPS
Banchero had a rough time offensively, starting 1-for-7 from the field by halftime and finishing in 30% shooting. However, he maintained solid fantasy value with a 9-for-11 performance at the free-throw line and strong contributions in secondary categories. Still, his scoring has noticeably declined—averaging just 16 points over his last two appearances after previously recording ten 30+ point games and consistently scoring 23+ points in all but one game since last month. Despite the dip, he remains a priority option for fantasy managers. With the win, the Magic advance to face the defending champions, and they’ll do so with a noticeable edge. The Magic with their length and athleticism, boast the league’s top defensive rating and have been elite at defending the perimeter, allowing the fewest made three-pointers this season. That’s especially important against a Celtics team that leans heavily on the three-ball, leading the league in attempts but ranking just 10th in percentage. The Magic have also had the upper hand in the season series, taking two of three games against Boston.
Franz Wagner 13 PTS | 13 REB | 2 STL | 40.1 FPS
Wagner endured a difficult shooting performance, struggling from the field, missing all five attempts from three and snapping his 12-game streak of 20+ points. However, he made up for it with his season-high rebounds and his fourth double-double of the season. While he’s been less effective as a playmaker lately, his defensive effort helped compensate. Still, he’ll need a significantly stronger performance against the Celtics if they want to move to the next round.
Cole Anthony 26 PTS | 3 REB | 5 AST | 37.1 FPS
Anthony stepped up today with his second strong scoring game in his last seven outings, putting up at least 18 points and hitting at least 4 threes. Since returning from a toe injury, he’s struggled with consistency and limited minutes. However, his ability to deliver big scoring outings has kept him as the top option at the point guard spot. With the way he’s been playing lately, he should be in line for a much larger role moving forward.
Wendell Carter Jr. 19 PTS | 7 REB | 2 BLK | 35.4 FPS
Carter provided elite value for his position with an efficient performance. He likely could have done even more, but he was limited after getting hurt and was visibly in discomfort multiple times during the game. It’s been an up-and-down season for him, but he’s picked up momentum in recent weeks and should continue to do so as long as he stays healthy. He also fared well in two of three games against the Celtics this season. However, foul trouble remains a concern—he ranks 12th in the league in fouls per game.
Anthony Black 16 PTS | 4 AST | 2 BLK | 32.8 FPS
Black delivered a much-needed spark, helping his team jump out to a big first-quarter lead and later regain control in the fourth. While he brings value with his all-around play, particularly on defense, his fantasy production remains somewhat limited off the bench.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Zacharrie Risacher 7 PTS | 2-10 FG | 3 REB
Risacher’s inconsistency continues to make him a challenging fantasy option. While he has the potential to deliver strong overall production, he’s also prone to quiet outings like today. However, his fantasy outlook would still depend on their next matchup. He struggled significantly in four games against the Heat this season but managed to contribute in two of three outings against the Bulls.
