Atlanta @ Orlando preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 26, 2019 ) Orlando 99, Atlanta 103

The Orlando Magic have relied on a strong defense to overcome the lowest-scoring offense in the NBA, but after a subpar defensive effort in Saturday’s loss at Milwaukee the Magic hope to rebound Monday against the free-falling Atlanta Hawks. Orlando could not take advantage of the Bucks missing reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, losing 111-100 despite Jonathan Isaac’s seven steals as Milwaukee shot 51.2 percent from the field and outrebounded the Magic 57-35.

Even more discouraging was the loss of forward Aaron Gordon, who is averaging 13.2 points and 7.1 rebounds, to soreness in his left Achilles tendon in the third quarter that likely will sideline him Monday and beyond. “It’s been going on for a little bit now, and I’ve got to get it taken care of before I continue to play,” Gordon told reporters postgame. The Hawks continue to endure a rotten season, losing for the 10th straight time and 20th in their past 22 games on Saturday in Chicago, 116-81. Atlanta struggled mightily on offense without star point guard Trae Young, who sprained his right ankle in Friday’s loss to Milwaukee and has been ruled out of Monday's game.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBA TV, FS Southeast (Atlanta), FS Florida (Orlando)

ABOUT THE HAWKS (6-27): Young’s absence is massive for a team that’s on its second 10-game losing streak of the season, as the second-year guard ranks fourth in the NBA in scoring (28.5 points) and fifth in assists (8.3). Forward John Collins, in his third game since returning from a 25-game suspension, scored 34 points on 14-of-26 shooting against Chicago. Atlanta shot 37.2 percent from the field Saturday, and defensively for the season is 29th in points allowed at 118.3 and 28th in opposing field-goal percentage at 48 percent.

ABOUT THE MAGIC (14-18): Guard Evan Fournier leads Orlando in scoring at 19.4 points and finished Saturday with a team-high 23 points, shooting 8-for-16 shooting from the field and 4-for-7 from 3-point range. Center Nikola Vucevic averages 17.7 points and 10.9 rebounds, and in seven games since returning from a sprained right ankle is averaging 19 points with 9.4 rebounds. The Magic are scoring just 103.2 points per game and rank 29th in the league in field-goal percentage (43.2 percent), but limit opponents to 104.9 points (third in the NBA).

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Isaac fell one steal shy of tying the franchise record, and added 19 points and nine rebounds.

2. Atlanta C Alex Len, who missed Friday’s game with a sprained right ankle, scored 10 points with five rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench Saturday.

3. The Hawks beat Orlando in Atlanta in their second game of the season, 103-99 on Oct. 26 as Young scored 39 points with nine assists and seven rebounds.

PREDICTION: Magic 112, Hawks 94