Hawks vs. Magic Predictions, Picks & Odds: NBA Play-In Tournament, 4/15
The NBA Play-In Tournament tips off with a high-stakes Eastern Conference clash as the Atlanta Hawks take on the Orlando Magic today, April 15, 2025.
The winner secures the No. 7 seed and a playoff matchup against the Boston Celtics, while the loser faces a do-or-die game for the final postseason spot. What do our Hawks vs. Magic predictions for tonight look like?
Hawks vs. Magic Predictions for Tonight’s NBA Play-In Tournament, 4/15
Both teams have battled injuries and inconsistency but bring firepower and grit to this elimination game.
Here’s a breakdown of the storylines, odds, Hawks vs. Magic picks, and everything you need to know.
Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young’s Redemption Shot
The Hawks (40-42) head into the Play-In Tournament leaning heavily on Trae Young, whose playmaking brilliance remains their X-factor. Young averaged 28.3 points and double-digit assists against Orlando this season, though his efficiency dipped in key moments.
After a season of roster shakeups—losing Dejounte Murray and battling frontcourt injuries—Atlanta’s offense ranks fifth in the NBA at 118.2 points per game, but their defense (27th, allowing 119.3 points) has been a glaring weakness.
Rookie Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels have added defensive spark, but the Hawks’ hopes hinge on Young out dueling Orlando’s stout defense in a fast-paced, high-scoring affair. Can Atlanta overcome their defensive woes and Young’s postseason pressure to steal a road win?
Orlando Magic: Banchero & Wagner’s Playoff Push
The Magic (41-41) have leaned on their elite defense—best in the NBA, allowing just 105.5 points per game—to stay competitive despite offensive struggles (29th, 105.4 points). Paolo Banchero (25.9 PPG) and Franz Wagner (24.2 PPG) have been a dynamic duo, with Banchero torching Atlanta for 30+ points in all three regular-season matchups.
Orlando’s size and physicality give them an edge in the paint, but injuries to Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner have thinned their rotation. The Magic’s home crowd at the Kia Center and their ability to slow Atlanta’s up-tempo attack could be decisive. Will Orlando’s defensive identity and young stars deliver in their first Play-In spotlight?
How To Watch The 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament
The Hawks vs. Magic game tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET on April 15, 2025, at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. You can follow along with Hawks vs. Magic predictions and catch the action live on TNT or stream it via NBA League Pass.
The Play-In Tournament continues through April 16, with all games available on TNT, ESPN, or NBA League Pass, ensuring fans don’t miss a second of the postseason race.
Hawks vs. Magic Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
Here are the latest Hawks vs. Magic odds, courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook:
- Spread: Magic -5.5 (-110) | Hawks +5.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Magic -220 | Hawks +180
- Over/Under: O218.5 (-115) | U218.5 (-105)
The Magic opened as 5.5-point favorites but have settled at -5, with 51% of bets and 62% of money favoring Orlando to cover.
The total has held steady at 218.5, though 68% of bets lean toward the over, expecting a higher-scoring game than their regular-season average of 220 points combined. Atlanta’s +180 money line has drawn 62% of bets, reflecting some confidence in an upset.
Hawks vs. Magic Player Prediction: Paolo Banchero O30.5 Points (+100 at BetMGM)
We look to Banchero for our Hawks vs. Magic picks. Banchero has feasted against Atlanta’s porous defense, averaging 31.7 points across three games this season, including two 36-point outbursts. With Jalen Johnson and Clint Capela sidelined, the Hawks lack the size to contain Orlando’s star forward.
Banchero’s ability to attack the rim and draw fouls (7.8 FTA per game) makes him a safe bet to clear 30.5 points in a must-win home game. The +100 odds at BetMGM offer solid value for Hawks vs. Magic predictions regarding a player who thrives against Atlanta’s weak interior defense.
Hawks vs. Magic Injury Report & Starting Lineup
Injury Report
- Hawks: Jalen Johnson (season-ending knee injury), Clint Capela (season-ending hand injury), Larry Nance (season-ending femur fracture) are out. Trae Young (Achilles tendinitis) is probable.
- Magic: Jalen Suggs (season-ending injury) and Moritz Wagner (season-ending injury) are out.
Projected Starting Lineups
- Hawks: PG Trae Young, SG Dyson Daniels, SF Zaccharie Risacher, PF Mouhamed Gueye, C Onyeka Okongwu
- Magic: PG Cory Joseph, SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SF Franz Wagner, PF Paolo Banchero, C Wendell Carter
Both teams are banged up, but Orlando’s questionable stars are likely to suit up, giving them a depth edge. Atlanta’s depleted frontcourt could struggle against Orlando’s size.
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This matchup promises intensity, with Orlando’s defense clashing against Atlanta’s offensive firepower. While the Magic’s home edge and Banchero’s dominance make them favorites, Young’s clutch ability could keep it close, setting up some interesting Hawks vs. Magic predictions.
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Ivica Zubac had a productive outing, finishing with 27 points (11-of-15 FGs, 5-of-8 FTs), five rebounds, one assist and two blocks in the Game 5 loss to the Nuggets on Tuesday.
Zubac continued to score the ball well, finishing with a series-high in points on efficient shooting. However, Zubac’s usual impact on the glass was absent as he secured just five rebounds in Game 5 after tallying at least nine in the previous four, with his one assist also tying his lowest output of the series. Down in the series 3-2, the Clippers head back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Thursday, where they face a must-win situation to keep their season alive.
James Harden concluded Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Nuggets with 11 points (3-of-9 FGs, 5-of-8 FTs), eight rebounds, five assists and two steals in 35 minutes.
Harden had a quiet night on Tuesday, barely cracking double figures in scoring and failing to register double-digit shot attempts. The 2018 NBA MVP has faced a stifling Nuggets defense that, over the last few games, has forced the ball out of his hands, leading to inferior performances compared to earlier games in the series. Harden will look for a bounce-back performance on Thursday as he tries to lead the Clippers to a season-saving victory in Game 6.
Kawhi Leonard stuffed the stat sheet in Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Nuggets, posting 20 points (8-of-15 FGs, 3-of-7 FTs), nine rebounds, 11 assists, one steal, two blocks and one three-pointer.
Leonard did a little bit of everything for the Clippers in Game 5. The two-time NBA Finals MVP posted a series-high in assists and also hit the glass hard, resulting in a near-triple-double. Leonard has scored at least 20 points in all five games of this series. However, the Clippers may need even more from him going forward as they look to extend their season beyond Thursday’s Game 6 at the Intuit Dome.
Nikola Jokic earned a triple-double in the Nuggets’ Game 5 win on Tuesday over the Clippers, finishing with 13 points (4-of-13 FGs, 4-of-5 FTs), 10 rebounds, 12 assists, one steal, two blocks and one three-pointer.
The three-time NBA MVP had a relatively quiet game by his standards, but still came away with his third triple-double of the series. Jokic struggled with shooting efficiency, and his scoring output was the lowest of the series. Yet, his points were not as necessary in this game, given how well the rest of the Nuggets shot the ball. Nevertheless, Jokic will be in line for another big performance on Thursday when the Nuggets face the Clippers in Game 6.
Russell Westbrook came off the bench and produced 21 points (8-of-15 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), one rebound, one assist and three three-pointers in the Nuggets’ Game 5 win over the Clippers on Tuesday.
Westbrook was electric in his first game back in the lineup following a foot injury that kept him out of Game 4. His second-quarter scoring ignited the crowd and helped set the table for what would be his highest-scoring game of the postseason. The 2017 NBA MVP has had himself a nice series thus far from a scoring standpoint and will have a chance to end his former team’s season on Thursday in Game 6.
Jamal Murray had a dominant Game 5 performance in the Nuggets’ win over the Clippers on Tuesday, tallying 43 points (17-of-26 FGs, 1-of-1 FTs), five rebounds, seven assists, three steals, one block and eight three-pointers.
Fresh off a series-low 13 points in Game 4, Murray exploded for a series-high on Tuesday. He totaled nearly as many three-pointers in this game as he had in the previous four combined, while still managing to dish out seven assists. Murray got hot early in this one and never cooled off, and now has provided his Nuggets the opportunity on Thursday in Game 6 to eliminate the Clippers for the second time in the last five seasons.