Two teams in the battle for the final playoff positions in the Eastern Conference will face off as the Atlanta Hawks host the Orlando Magic tonight.
Atlanta has been great for bettors in February, and I’m riding that trend by picking it to cover in my Magic vs. Hawks predictions.
I’ll dig further into tonight’s matchup in my free NBA picks for Thursday, February 20.
Magic vs Hawks prediction
My best bet
Atlanta +1 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
Orlando and Atlanta are separated by just a half-game in the standings right now, making games like tonight crucial for both sides. And while neither team has been great as of late — both are sporting 4-6 records over their last 10 games — the situation has been very different when we look at how they’re holding up to the market’s expectations.
The Hawks are on a tear for bettors, having covered in all seven games this month. Granted, they’ve only gone 4-3 straight up during that time, but even the losses have been extremely right, with the most recent being a 1-point defeat against the Knicks just before the All-Star break.
Meanwhile, Orlando has a 3-4 record this month, while going only 2-5 ATS over that period. That includes a 112-106 loss at home to Atlanta on Feb. 10.
Why such a sharp divide? The Magic struggled at times in the first half due to injuries to stars like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. While the team has played better with them both back in the lineup, the difference hasn’t been quite as stark as bettors have expected.
On the other hand, the Hawks have gotten some great contributions from players that came in at the trade deadline. Caris LeVert and Georges Niang have both averaged 15+ points per game since joining Atlanta, while Terance Mann has provided quality minutes off the bench. That has meant less pressure on Trae Young (23.7 points per game) to carry the load singlehandedly, and the likely return of Clint Capela will ease that burden even more.
That should help reinvigorate an Atlanta offense that has relied more on playing quickly to score points than actual offensive efficiency. The Hawks don’t need to score a ton of points tonight, as Orlando has only eclipsed 112 points once in its last eight games.
Those offensive struggles have limited how many wins the Magic can find, as even their defense can only do so much for a team that frequently fails to even get into triple digits.
Atlanta recently defeated this team in Orlando, and I expect them to do the same tonight at home. However, with little premium on the moneyline, I'll take the point on the spread for insurance.
Magic vs Hawks same-game parlay
Atlanta +1.5
Under 223.5
Trae Young Under 26.5 points
I like Atlanta to cover tonight, but based on the last meeting between these teams — and some recent trends — I don’t think there will be a lot of scoring. The Magic plays the lowest-scoring brand of basketball in the league, combining elite defense with a sluggish pace of play that tends to drag down even the best offensive teams.
That means there won’t be as many points to go around, and while Orlando’s big stars are almost always the focus of its offense, the Hawks tend to be a bit more flexible from night to night. Young is averaging just 23.7 ppg this year and is still nursing a minor Achilles injury. The Atlanta guard put up 19 points when these teams played earlier this month, and I expect a similar output from him tonight.
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Magic vs Hawks odds
Magic vs Hawks live odds
Magic vs Hawks opening odds
- Spread: Orlando +1.5 (-110) | Atlanta -1.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Orlando +110 | Atlanta -130
- Over/Under: Over 221.5 (-110) | Under 221.5 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Magic vs Hawks spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Hawks are 27-28 against the spread this season, while the Magic are 25-30-1 ATS.
- Orlando is 2-7 ATS in its last nine games overall, with Atlanta posting a 9-1 ATS record over its last 10 games.
- The Under has a 34-22 mark when the Magic have played, while the Over has a 31-22-2 advantage in Hawks games.
- Atlanta is playing to an average total of 235.8 ppg, a stark contrast to Orlando, which is averaging a total of 209.4 ppg.
Magic vs Hawks trend
Atlanta is 7-0 ATS in its last seven games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Hawks.
How to watch Magic vs Hawks
| Location | State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia |
| Date | Thursday, 2-20-2025 |
| Tip-off | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | FanDuel Sports Network-Florida, FanDuel Sports Network SE-ATL |
Magic vs Hawks latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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