Hawks Open Regular Season With 132-125 Win Over Magic

 

The Atlanta Hawks opened the 2026-27 NBA regular season with a strong road victory Wednesday night, defeating the Orlando Magic 132-125 at Kia Center.

Atlanta starts the season 1-0, while Orlando falls to 0-1. The Hawks controlled much of the first half, watched the Magic rally in the third quarter, then responded with a composed fourth-quarter finish to secure the win.

Atlanta carried a 72-62 lead into halftime, using balanced scoring, pace and perimeter shooting to keep Orlando on its heels.

The Hawks looked comfortable offensively early, moving the basketball and creating quality looks throughout the first two quarters. Atlanta’s ability to spread the floor also gave its playmakers room to attack, and the Hawks took advantage by building a double-digit cushion before the break.

But Orlando came out of halftime with a much different level of urgency.

The Magic steadily erased Atlanta’s lead and eventually took control late in the third quarter. By the end of the period, Orlando had turned a 10-point halftime deficit into a 100-99 advantage, setting up a tight fourth quarter.

That is when Nickeil Alexander-Walker took over.

Alexander-Walker finished with a team-high 31 points, including 11 points in the fourth quarter, and delivered several of the biggest baskets of the night. His late-game shot-making helped Atlanta regain momentum after Orlando had taken control.

Rather than panic after losing the lead, the Hawks settled back into their offense and found the matchups they wanted. Alexander-Walker attacked confidently and made Orlando pay from the perimeter, giving Atlanta the scoring punch it needed to close.

His performance also showed how important his role could be this season. On a night when the Hawks needed someone to create offense late, Alexander-Walker stepped forward and delivered.

He was far from Atlanta’s only contributor.

Jalen Johnson finished with 20 points, giving the Hawks another steady scoring option while continuing to impact the game with his size and versatility. Dyson Daniels also scored 20 points, helping Atlanta maintain offensive balance throughout the night.

Having three players reach the 20-point mark was especially important against an Orlando team that continued to apply pressure in the second half.

The Magic were led by Paolo Banchero, who put together one of the strongest performances of the night with 35 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists. Banchero controlled stretches of the game offensively and was a major reason Orlando was able to erase Atlanta’s halftime advantage.

Franz Wagner added 22 points, six rebounds and five assists, giving the Magic another consistent scoring threat.

Together, Banchero and Wagner kept Orlando within striking distance and helped turn what had looked like a comfortable Atlanta lead into a fourth-quarter battle.

Still, the Hawks found a way to finish.

That may be the most encouraging part of the season-opening victory.

Atlanta did not simply protect a lead from start to finish. The Hawks were forced to respond after Orlando took momentum, captured the lead and put the pressure squarely back on Atlanta.

Instead of unraveling, Atlanta answered.

The Hawks executed better late, got timely buckets from Alexander-Walker and made enough plays on both ends to pull away down the stretch.

That kind of response matters early in a season.

After finishing preseason play 4-1, Atlanta entered opening night with plenty of optimism about its depth, rotations and offensive versatility. But preseason results only tell so much.

Wednesday night was the first opportunity to see how the Hawks would respond when the game counted.

They passed that test.

The victory also continued Atlanta’s recent success against Orlando and gave the Hawks an important road win to open the season.

Beyond the result, the win offered several encouraging signs.

The Hawks showed they can score in multiple ways. They showed they can withstand a strong opponent run. And most importantly, they showed they can execute late in a close game on the road.

There will be plenty to clean up, especially after surrendering a double-digit lead in the second half. But opening night is about setting a tone, and Atlanta found a way to leave Orlando with exactly what it came for — a win.

One game down.One win in the books. And after a strong fourth-quarter finish in Orlando, the Hawks have officially started the 2026-27 season on the right foot.

Up Next: The Hawks stay on the road and will face the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7:00 p.m. ET at Spectrum Center. Atlanta will then return home for its home opener against the Houston Rockets on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 8:30 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena.