October 22, 2026 at 5:53 AM UTC

Postgame Report

Hawks Hold Off Magic 132-125 in Orlando Opener as Banchero's Triple-Double Bid Falls Short

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Atlanta won the 2026-27 opener at Kia Center, led by Nickeil Alexander-Walker's 31 points, and stretched its winning streak over Orlando to five games.

ORLANDO — The Hawks opened the 2026-27 season with a 132-125 win over the Magic on Wednesday night, on a night when Orlando hosted and Atlanta scored well enough that the home team never really shook it. Anyone who found the game on TV or a streaming feed watched a seven-point decision that was in doubt longer than the early pace suggested.

The forward matchup was the one on the marquee, and both men posted double-doubles. Paolo Banchero played 41 minutes and finished with 35 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds, the kind of line that usually wins a night for a team. Jalen Johnson had 20 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists in 28 minutes. The two Duke products traded possessions all night, but the better individual numbers belonged to Banchero while Johnson went home with the win.

Atlanta swept all four games against Orlando last season, and this one made it five in a row. Nickeil Alexander-Walker did most of the damage with 31 points in 30 minutes, and Dyson Daniels added 20 and CJ McCollum 19. Onyeka Okongwu scored only 8 but handed out 7 assists. Orlando got 22 each from Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. and 18 from Desmond Bane, but Jalen Suggs managed just 6 points.

It was also the first game for the Magic under coach Sean Sweeney, and the schedule will not give him much time to settle in. The Hawks were the first of five games that also include Minnesota, New York and Toronto twice. Anthony Black did not play, which left the backcourt rotation short, with Jase Richardson getting 14 minutes behind the starters. Sweeney will have to find more answers there soon.

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