Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) shoots against Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5). AP Photo/Mike Stewart Wednesday’s game between the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic is vital and carries significant implications for playoff seeding in the East.
Atlanta previously defeated Orlando, 124-112, in March, fueled by a career-high 41 points from Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Despite that 12-point margin of victory, oddsmakers only favor the Hawks by three points, with the Over/Under set at 234 at bet365.
The Magic were riding a seven-game win streak before that loss to Atlanta, which appears to have triggered a slump for Jahmal Mosley’s team.
Orlando is just 2-6 since the defeat, now finding itself clustered with the Heat, Sixers and Hornets in the crowded Play-In Tournament race.
With Franz Wagner sidelined, the scoring burden has shifted significantly to Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane.
While their defensive rating briefly reached the league’s top spot after the All-Star break, largely due to a favorable schedule against weaker opponents, their defensive inconsistencies returned as they faced stiffer competition.
The Hawks, on the other hand, have been soaring up the conference standings and are the No. 5 seed in the conference entering this game.
Atlanta made a bold move in early January, trading franchise cornerstone Trae Young to the Wizards for C.J. McCollum and Corey Kispert.
While many speculated this signaled a tanking effort to potentially pair a prospect from this year’s loaded draft with Jalen Johnson, coach Quin Snyder has instead revitalized the team.
Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) celebrates his three-point shot against the Orlando Magic. AP He has successfully defined roles for key players like Alexander-Walker, McCollum and even former Warrior Jonathan Kuminga.
Atlanta is 16-2 since Feb. 22, including an impressive 13-game home win streak at State Farm Arena.
With Young gone, Jalen Johnson has stepped up as Atlanta’s primary offensive threat, consistently stuffing the stat sheet.
He leads the team with averages of 22.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game.
I anticipate the perennial All-Star will continue his strong performance in this Southeast division showdown.
While Johnson could very well flirt with a triple-double, I favor his PRA (Points + Rebounds + Assists) prop at 40 or more.
The Play: Jalen Johnson to record 40 or more points, rebounds, & assists (-130, BetRivers Sportsbook)
Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
