The Atlanta Hawks opened their season with a 132–125 road victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, overcoming a slow start and second-half foul trouble with timely perimeter shooting.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker knocked down back-to-back three-pointers in the fourth quarter, giving Atlanta a timely offensive boost. He and CJ McCollum helped sustain the offense while Jalen Johnson dealt with foul trouble, and all five Hawks starters except Onyeka Okongwu finished in double figures.
Atlanta initially
struggled on both ends. The offense took time to find its rhythm, while defensive breakdowns allowed Orlando to generate easy opportunities at the rim and wide-open three-pointers.
The Hawks became more disruptive as the first half progressed. Active hands produced steals and deflections, while Atlanta also forced turnovers by drawing offensive fouls. That defensive activity helped fuel the offense, with the Hawks attacking the basket, reaching the free-throw line and moving the ball to create better looks.
Atlanta led by as many as 12 points in the first half. During the second quarter, the Hawks held Orlando without a field goal for more than three minutes, showing a defensive connection that had been missing early.
Jock Landale also took a hit from Nikola Vucevic near his left eye early in the second quarter, providing a scare for Atlanta’s frontcourt.
The second half brought another challenge. Johnson picked up early fouls and spent an extended stretch on the bench, taking a key offensive option out of the lineup. Alexander-Walker and McCollum helped fill that gap with their three-point shooting.
However, the Hawks struggled to defend without fouling, giving Orlando opportunities at the free-throw line. The Magic outscored Atlanta 38–27 in the third quarter to shift the momentum.
Atlanta ultimately secured the win, with Alexander-Walker’s consecutive fourth-quarter threes providing an important contribution as the Hawks finished the opener.
The competitive tension also spilled over, with Johnson and Paolo Banchero exchanging words as things grew chippy.
The Hawks continue their road trip Friday against the Charlotte Hornets.
